Main rooster breaking eggs and calling hens to eat them???

[Chickycammy]

Poseidon my favorite rooster and best Dad has been breaking the hens eggs and calling them to eat it for the past 3 days. I'm so confused on why he's doing this. The chickens partly free range in my backyard but at night they stay in a 9Wx12Lx6H lot with the smaller chicks which have their own pins inside it. The hens go in there to lay during the day we have 6 active layers. At night if I don't find all the eggs then HE will and he'll break them open and call the hens and they eat them

I have 14lbs of feed available for them as well as grit. They're free to go in and out during the day.

Any ideas on why he's doing this? Should I remove the chicks or him from the flock?

 

[FarmerGirl101]

In my experience they did it because of poor nutrition. We didn't have great quality feed. What are you feeding them? Do they have free access to oyster shells?

 

[Chickycammy]

In my experience they did it because of poor nutrition. We didn't have great quality feed. What are you feeding them? Do they have free access to oyster shells?

I feed them Producers pride 16% layer feed crumbles and I give them same brand scratch grains as treats. I also give them grit I get some tractor supply.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I feed them Producers pride 16% layer feed crumbles and I give them same brand scratch grains as treats. I also give them grit I get some tractor supply.

I would switch to a different brand. That is what I was feed them and they started eating their eggs because of it. After we switched they stopped. I feed DuMOR 16% layer pellets as it's the next cheapest bag and I've noticed a big difference. Also start giving them free access to oyster shells as this will help strengthen the egg shells and make it harder for them to crack it.

What also helps is collecting the eggs multiple times a day so they don't have the chance to go break them. I even put in rocks to hopefully discourage them if they pecked the rocks.

 

[Chickycammy]

I would switch to a different brand. That is what I was feed them and they started eating their eggs because of it. After we switched they stopped. I feed DuMOR 16% layer pellets as it's the next cheapest bag and I've noticed a big difference. Also start giving them free access to oyster shells as this will help strengthen the egg shells and make it harder for them to crack it.

What also helps is collecting the eggs multiple times a day so they don't have the chance to go break them. I even put in rocks to hopefully discourage them if they pecked the rocks.

I just switched from DuMOR 16% last week because my tractor supply was out! Must be one reason it started. I'll switch them back to it and see if it helps. I have some fake eggs that I can put in so maybe that would also help.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I just switched from DuMOR 16% last week because my tractor supply was out! Must be one reason it started. I'll switch them back to it and see if it helps. I have some fake eggs that I can put in so maybe that would also help.

Oh wow! Yeah, I think that should fix the issue. Again, I'd also add free choice oyster shells. They really should always have that anyways.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I just switched from DuMOR 16% last week because my tractor supply was out! Must be one reason it started. I'll switch them back to it and see if it helps. I have some fake eggs that I can put in so maybe that would also help.

You want high protein, low calcium feed especially if you have a rooster. Need at least 18 - 20% protein. Roosters don't need the extra calcium since they don't lay eggs. It damages their kidneys over time. Hens also benefit better on high protein feed. Just need to supplement calcium on the side in a separate feeder, or container for the hens to regulate their own calcium consumption.