Missing and Cracked Eggs

[TaaDaaGina]

Hello All, this is my first time posting. I have a question regarding my "Alpha" Golden Sex Link Hen (I own 2 hens) - who has been a SOLID - one egg a day producer. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that there was a broken egg in an unusual place. After that I noticed that she didn't always lay her eggs in the same place (one time I accidentally came across a nest with 4 in it :~/ ) and today when I was letting them out of their pen in the morning, a broken (thick) egg shell was stuck to the back of her tail feathers with no sign of the inside of the egg?! Has she been cracking and eating the eggs (perhaps sitting on it after it was opened?)?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It's possible. What are you feeding them? In my small experiences with sex links they required more protein than other breeds and turned into egg eaters and feather pickers on a layer ration.

 

[TaaDaaGina]

It's possible. What are you feeding them? In my small experiences with sex links they required more protein than other breeds and turned into egg eaters and feather pickers on a layer ration.

THANK you so much for getting back to me!! i am feeding them both their fav (so far) Nutrena Layer Feed 16% Pellet by Nature Wise. She is my agressive athletic one, so needing protein could be a factor - any suggestions on the best way to get that done?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I personally like to feed either a non medicated starter grower or an All Flock ration or flock raiser. They tend to be 18-20% protein. The calcium needs are met by a separate bowl of oyster shells. I found layer to have too low of protein for my birds and my husbandry. I feed this year round.

If you wish to feed a layer you shouldn't feed extras as it dilutes the daily protein too much.

You can feed higher protein or animal source protein to give them a boost. Things like scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, and canned fish.

Sometimes hens break eggs with their toe nails, and by dropping one egg onto another. So it isn't always eat eating though any broken eggs are often eaten.