I know this has been asked, and kinda answered........but

[gog8tors]

My older hen is eating her own eggs. Now I don't want her going into the stew pot, nor do I want her teaching the others to start eating their eggs.
I noticed that her eggs (well the shell that's left) are very thin. We're thinking she is about 5 or 6 years old, we've only had her about 2 years.
My flock free ranges, and we feed them the regular laying pellets/corn scratch. They also have oyster shells available. I haven't put egg shells out for them because, one I use them in the compost pile, and two I don't want to encourage the egg eating.

Help

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

First switch to a higher protein feed, an all flock or non medicated grower, or a game bird, the scratch you feed dilutes the total protein they eat in a day and they get deficiencies, something with a 18-20% protein content. Next get some oyster shells and offer them in a separate bowl for free choice calcium needs. Most egg eating is from one of these deficiencies. For a quick boost scramble them some eggs or offer small amounts of cottage cheese. If a thin shelled egg cracks when laid it will often be eaten. Also make sure you nest boxes are well bedded.

 

[gog8tors]

Thank you I will try your suggestions.

 

[MelodyC]

What would be a "small amount of cottage cheese" for a flock of 12? I found which hen it is that is laying the soft-shelled eggs in our flock, but unfortunately she had already gotten up and was in the house with other hens and I can't tell the RIR's apart. I'll also have to get a higher protein feed to mix into the layer feed.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What would be a "small amount of cottage cheese" for a flock of 12?   I found which hen it is that is laying the soft-shelled eggs in our flock, but unfortunately she had already gotten up and was in the house with other hens and I can't tell the RIR's apart.   I'll also have to get a higher protein feed to mix into the layer feed. 

Soft shelled eggs are usually from being frightened or stressed or just occur occasionally, especially at the beginning and the end of the laying season, it's not that unusual.

For a flock of 12 I would give them around a quarter to half of a larger containers 1-3 times a week for a week or two, or just give them some every week or two, about half the container, depending on if they seem to tolerate it well.

 

[MelodyC]

Thanks!! Just curious - will that firm them up also? Have one with a runny butt, and someone had suggested pumpkin, but none will touch it.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I don't know, sometimes dairy can make them looser, so try a small amount than increase it if they do okay, perhaps if you sprinkle something they are familiar with on top of the pumpkin they would try it.