Hungry hens or predator??

[walshfarm]

About once a week or so I find a messy yoke in the nesting box. It's happened 4 or 5 times and every time there has been no trace of a shell. I was wondering if this is the hens or if I have another animal getting in the coop? If it is the hens what can I do about it?

 

[thomasboyle]

I lose an egg a week or so. Sometimes they lay an egg without a shell (just a membrane) and sometimes it gets broken and they eat it. I try to make sure I get the eggs ASAP once they are layed. If you do have a chicken who eats her eggs, she won't stop, and may teach the others to do the same. Chicken stew is the answer if that happens.

 

[donrae]

Sounds more like a shell-less egg than an egg eater. Egg eaters usually eat the yolk first, leaving the shell for last. Shell-less eggs are common among young/new layers, and high production birds. It's usually just a kink they have to work out of their systems. Providing enough calcium can help, layer feed and/or egg shells, oyster shell, etc.

 

[walshfarm]

Thanks, that sounds like it might be it. They don't seem to mess with the yoke so I was hoping they hadn't started eating. They are new birds got them last spring late. Ill keep an eye on it, the insight was appreciated.

 

[blucoondawg]

we have a broken egg from time to time and they chickens will eat the shell for calcium supplement and they may eat the yoke too or else it just mixes with the bedding I don't know, but we haven't had any chickens turn into egg breakers/eater from it, it only happens rarely

 

[fallbrookchicks]

I have had ground squirrels steal eggs and baby chicks. They don't even eat them most of the time, they just do the damage.