My chickens wont eat eggshell??

[Ridgerunner]

Hens can get calcium for their egg shells in different ways, the feed we feed them, supplemental calcium we offer like eggshell or oyster shell, some plants or creepy crawlies provide calcium, sometimes the rocks they eat has calcium, like limestone. As long as the eggs they lay are thick and hard, they are getting enough calcium from somewhere. They usually do not eat offered supplemental calcium unless they need it.

Mine don’t eat egg shells either, they are getting enough calcium from other sources, mainly oyster shell. For some people just a little oyster shell can last a long long time if the hen shave another source. Mine gets eaten, though it lasts a pretty good while.

 

[StephStuh]

I have 8 Rhode Island red hens that are not quiet 1 year old that love to eat an egg that we've accidentally dropped on the ground! They go crazy! My question is...are they lacking something in their diet that causes them to react the way they do over a broken egg? We put oyster shells in their feed and they eat it just fine! I'm new to raising chickens so I'm unsure of their reaction! Thank you!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I have 8 Rhode Island red hens that are not quiet 1 year old that love to eat an egg that we've accidentally dropped on the ground! They go crazy! My question is...are they lacking something in their diet that causes them to react the way they do over a broken egg? We put oyster shells in their feed and they eat it just fine! I'm new to raising chickens so I'm unsure of their reaction! Thank you!

Not at all -- that reaction is pretty normal and not to do with nutritional defficiency but rather the fact that a broken egg is yummy and a rare treat.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree.

An egg eater is a chicken that will purposely open an egg to eat it. You do not want one of these.

But almost any chicken will eat a broken egg. It’s perfectly normal and natural for them to eat all that free nutrition. As long as they are not opening an egg to eat it, what you describe is perfectly normal and natural. It does not signify anything is wrong.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

I agree with the rest. It's normal; chickens love a cracked egg.

 

[Shiyanne]

Hens can get calcium for their egg shells in different ways, the feed we feed them, supplemental calcium we offer like eggshell or oyster shell, some plants or creepy crawlies provide calcium, sometimes the rocks they eat has calcium, like limestone. As long as the eggs they lay are thick and hard, they are getting enough calcium from somewhere. They usually do not eat offered supplemental calcium unless they need it.

Mine don’t eat egg shells either, they are getting enough calcium from other sources, mainly oyster shell. For some people just a little oyster shell can last a long long time if the hen shave another source. Mine gets eaten, though it lasts a pretty good while.

Yea their eggs are nice and hard.. Yummy too lol better than any store bought knock offs lol...

Thank you to all for ur knowledge

 

[mobius]

Maybe they are just tasting it and deciding they don't need it right now...are they laying? Does their feed have additional calcium?

I keep crushed eggshells in separate feeder in the run. They eat them as needed. Sometimes extra calcium (like during a molt or non-laying period) is not a good idea health-wise. Most folks let the chickens choose...when my chickens just started laying again after their molt, they started eating the eggshells again.

And if crushed up, it won't encourage egg eating.

 

[donrae]

What are you feeding as a main feed?

 

[Shiyanne]

Yes they are laying eggs everyday. Well my older ones are, the youngings havent started yet. And the feed is country road layer feed from rural king. Eggs are hard and well formed.

Edit to add* treats are collard n turnip greens, froz mix veggie and starfruit or hog melon.

 

[donrae]

If your birds are getting layer feed, it has all the calcium they need. Not surprising they're not eating shells, they just don't need it.

Now, as they age, they may need more, and start eating some shells when offered. Young hens start out with a good, high supply of calcium in their bones. The layer feed has usually around 4%, which is what they need to support production. If you were feeding grower or all in one, as a lot of us with mixed flocks do, you'd probably be seeing more shell intake. But for now, they're just telling you they're good and don't need it.