Pecking eggs

[GunnerRanch]

I just got 2 eggs with the same problem, small hole in the top but didn't poke through the membrane. Any success in getting your girls to stop doing that?

 

[jpmrmw]

I added more straw for a thicker layer of padding in case the egg was just cracking as it was laid and dropped. Several months now and no more tiny holes! Hopefully the problem is gone for good.

 

[getchickens]

I am having this same problem, pecking the egg but without breaking through the membrane. Anybody know what can be done about it?

 

[Hishigata]

Seems like it may just be insufficient bedding in the nest boxes. If you want to be sure, wait until the hen goes in to the nest box then keep an eye on her to see if she is pecking the egg after laying. Be sure she is not just rolling it around with her beak as one of my hens likes to do this. Rolling the egg does not damage it, as long as it stays in the nest box and there is lots of bedding.

I had a hen that used to peck and eat her own eggs. I watched her do it one day. Later I put an egg in her house and when she came over and pecked it, I used two fingers to gently but firmly tap her near her tail and startle her. I repeated this on two more occasions and she never again pecked an egg.

 

[Ruby May]

Im having the same problem. I got several new hens over the weekend. The previous owner said he was not sure which hen is pecking the eggs but he had the same problem. I have had 3 pecked in the same place so far. The membrane is always left intact. I have read they do this to test the strength of the shell, to help chicks hatch or because they lack calcium. I also read to stop it; blow out several eggs, fill them with mustard and put back in the nests, put golf balls/fake eggs in the nests or provide more calcium. I have oyster shells in the coop and will try golf balls tomorrow. Im also going to set the trail cam to record in front of the boxes.

Does anyone else have any ideas as to why they do this or how it can be stopped?

 

[aggiemae]

Sometimes pullets are curious with the first few eggs and once they figure out the laying thing they never egg peck again. Also, chickens forget thing they are doing in about three days so getting the egg out of the next box ASAP for a while will help and so will putting in some golf balls or wooden eggs. I don''t know why it help, it just that it does.

A hole (or small crack) at the more pointy side of an egg which come out first can also be caused by the egg hitting the nest surface, try adding more bedding or, even better, put a folded towel under the bedding and see if it helps.