My hens are burying their eggs!

[Artichoke Lover]

picture of the nesting boxes plus some eggs that haven’t been covered. I haven’t found evidence of a broken egg. The cracking is due to the occasional thin shelled egg I get that will get cracked a little on the end if the bottom of the box doesn’t have a good layer of straw.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

I would try less straw (as I am sure I have pointed out lol)

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

I think some of my hens do that. Probably just to eat the eggs or because they're bored. Ah, spring come soon.

 

[Alabama Fly]

My girls don't leave a trace of eggshell, and barely even wet spot. They will break and eat the eggs and embryos out from under a setting hen. My hens have to set in cat crates. I got them to stop eating the nest box eggs by putting mustard filled eggs in the nest. Oh and a Hawk got the smart one that started the trend.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you're afraid removing some straw will lead to eggs cracking, try padding the floor of the nest box with a folded empty feed bag. Fold it so it'll fit snugly on the bottom of the box (as seen in middle box here), then top with nesting material.

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

You can try nest pads. They come made out of a variety of materials, some of which they definitely wouldn't be able to bury an egg in.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

Great ides about the feed bag