Lots of Broken Eggs-HELP

[Andi]

They eat most things that we do. Avoid citrus though. Left over table scraps are cherished, which is rather handy with kids that often don't clean their plates. The one thing to keep in mind is that you aren't displacing their balanced feed too much.

I give my girls treats with a higher protein level a couple times a week. Scrambled eggs or bits of meat. When chickens free range they spend most of their time looking for bugs, so the meat is okay. I've even given them canned dog food on holidays.

They like the veggies, too. Getting greens in their diet can't be bad. After seeing how much they nibble on plants during the Summer, its got to be something they crave. The latest thing I tried was a head of fresh cabbage. They were afraid of it at first. I had to take bite size pieces off for them and slowly work up to loosening the leaves on the head, but after that they devoured the head. It gave them something to do besides.

Trimmings from making supper, left overs, yogurt, bread heals, noodles (cooked), bird seed, slightly over ripe fruits and veggies that nobody will eat, etc. Seeing its pretty chilly where I live, I also add vegetable oil a couple times a week during this cold weather.

Once you start giving them treats, you'll find it hard to stop. They enjoy it so much. I never thought I'd find myself chopping things up to feed any animal, but I find myself doing it every morning now. Its so fun to watch the girls almost push the door open for me to get their breakfast in.

 

[Andi]

The calcium deposits on the eggs aren't anything to worry about. We are all so accustom to the factory eggs from the stores. Personally, I'd rather have calcium deposits on my eggs than thin shells (or no shells). Also, if the birds aren't getting the calcium in their diet the calcium will start getting pulled from the calcium in their bones. It may not prove to be a problem while the girls are young, but it likely will later in their lives.

 

[israelmeesterkat]

Ok. I will have to try out the treats. I have given my older chickens stuff from my garden and they loved it. I had never thought about table scraps. I will have to keep a little for them. Thanks!

 

[rancher hicks]

I have small bins fixed to the sides inside the coop and keep thosed filled with grit and oyster shell mix. I also put a dish of grit inside the run on occasion.
In the beginning I would get a soft egg on occasion and find one or two on the floor under the roost. Even a hard egg from time to time.
I put small wooden goose sized eggs n the boxes. I understand chickens don't see well in the dark. Also since I have brown layers only I used the unfinished wooden eggs. I figure they look most like their eggs and they might recognize it.
I have one nest for the marans w/ a white and brown wooden egg in it and they wouldn't lay in it for a long time. Funny thing about the marans is they never laid a soft egg and started in the nest box right off.
I've had two hens in the nest box on occasion and side by side . Different breeds. Weird. I just know they were conspirering against me.
Sometimes I hear them snicker when I reach into the nest box for an egg and stick my finger right in a pile of poop.
Never reach into a dark nest box. One time I reached in and poked a hen.

Well anyway keep a dish of grit/oyster shell available at all times. Feed greens high in calcium like spinach. I also crush their shells up real fine and mix those in the bucket of grit before I feed it to them.

 

[israelmeesterkat]

I wanted to thank everyone for all the advice. I actually had 2 eggs today and neither one was broken, nor were they in the nest box. I am going to keep an eye on the hens and hope they learn were to lay!
Thanks,
Tina