milk for egg eating chickens

[Tuffy123]

Ok so I am new at raising chickens and I have 7 New Hampshire reds and 1 Beautiful rooster named Romeo, .Well, I had an egg eater.. everyday I would find at least 1 broken and eaten egg, I looked on many websites and found that the University of Florida recommended I give my chickens milk for a few days.. and who would have believed it but it worked. All chickens are producing eggs and no more egg eaters..try it if you have this issue.
Noreen

 

[junebuggena]

Egg eating is usually caused by insufficient protein. Milk gives them a boost of protein, and has calcium to make the shells a bit harder to break open. Layer feed is usually has a protein content of about 15% to 16%, which is a bit low, in my opinion. The rooster should not be eating layer pellets at all. The added calcium in it that the hens need to produce good egg shells, is not needed or used by the rooster. Instead, it builds up in the kidneys and will cause organ damage if fed long term. I suggest feeding your flock a grower, all flock, or flock raiser type feed and supplement the hens with crushed oyster shell.

 

[Tuffy123]

so how would I keep rooster from eating oyster shells?

 

[junebuggena]

Offer it in a separate dish. He might peck at it occasionally, but he won't consume enough to do harm.

 

[aart]

Interesting....never heard this one before.
Makes sense tho with the protein and calcium in milk.

I have read that feeding chicken milk products is great .........and also read that they cannot digest milk products.
Wonders which is more accurate?

ETA: did a search and found this long thread with some good discussion:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/77017/milk-for-chickens