It's impractical, but could you feed a chicken nothing but eggs?

[Fishkeeper]

All animals need to eat- it's part of the definition of an animal. They eat to turn the food into energy to run their bodily processes, and to turn the food into materials to make more cells.
An egg can grow into a baby chick, full of energy, which means that the materials in an egg are suitable to both grow and fuel a chick.
Does that mean that someone could feed eggs, and nothing but eggs, to a chicken? I know you'd have to get eggs from elsewhere to feed it, feeding back its own eggs would only replace what it lost making the eggs, but could it be done at all? And, if someone were to do this, how many eggs would a chicken need to eat a day?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

but could it be done at all? And, if someone were to do this, how many eggs would a chicken need to eat a day?

It could be done, but don't expect the birds to live long healthy lives as eggs are 34% protein and 64% fat. Half the protein is found IN the yolk. They have little to no fiber or carbohydrates which end up being also important as an energy source throughout life.

It's true that the energy in an egg turns in into muscles, feathers, and all. That is not the same as sustaining a life long term. Sometimes those chicks hatch WITH vitamin deficiencies such as wry neck. While a chicken lays an egg everyday doesn't mean it's an egg worthy of sustaining life with all the nutrients in it that *should* be there. Feeding eggs you have no way of verifying actual nutrient content on an ongoing basis could leave them malnourished ultimately.

Your nutrient profile would likely result in fatty liver syndrome and a whole host of kidney or other issues... including gout and failure.

Very young animals do need more protein and fat than older animals as they are using the nutrients to actively grow. If you are free ranging on very lush pasture... it may minimize your issues.

With regards as to how many eggs to feed daily... None of our chicken feeds ever disclose the actual calorie count on their labels the way most other animal feeds do. And need will vary with the size of chicken. Larger chickens consume more calories than smaller ones. But they will eat to meet their ENERGY not their nutrient need. If it's presented every day as standard feed, maybe they won't consume excess amounts as they would if it was a treat they're crazy about.

I get and appreciate your line of thinking! I would keep eggs as a treat only. Balance seems to be key to so many things in life.

My take anyways.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Oh, I'm absolutely not going to attempt feeding a chicken nothing but eggs, or even just a lot of eggs. It's nowhere near practical. I was just wondering if an egg containing all the parts of a future chicken means it's appropriate chicken food.