Plucking their feathers and eating them! And eating eggs!

[charmedbaker]

I'm new to raising chickens so this may be totally normal but I have seen chickens plucking their fluffy butt feathers and another one eating them.
Also, I think they are eating eggs. I see two of my best layers get in position, but hours later, no eggs, just a messy wet puddle in the shavings.
Not sure what could be missing from their diet.

 

[Bunnylady]

A lack of protein in the diet is often a suspect in feather eating, though a simple case of too many birds, not enough space seems to contribute to it, too.

Egg eating is one of the most annoying vices a chicken can develop. Not enough calcium in the diet can lead to softer shells, making it easier to start. Free choice oyster shell can help to harden the shells. Having a dark, secure spot for the hens to lay helps to prevent egg eating, and there are nests that you can buy or make that allow the eggs to roll to a place where the hens can't get them once laid.

 

[charmedbaker]

A lack of protein in the diet is often a suspect in feather eating, though a simple case of too many birds, not enough space seems to contribute to it, too.

Egg eating is one of the most annoying vices a chicken can develop. Not enough calcium in the diet can lead to softer shells, making it easier to start. Free choice oyster shell can help to harden the shells. Having a dark, secure spot for the hens to lay helps to prevent egg eating, and there are nests that you can buy or make that allow the eggs to roll to a  place where the hens can't get them once laid.

Thanks Bunnylady! I appreciate the advice. I give them high protein feed with calcium and free feed oyster shells. I spent some time observing today. I'm thinking it could just be bad behavior. And I have to stop them like two year olds. The nesting boxes are milk crates with a thick pile of shavings. I'm pretty sure the little ones see the egg when the old one gets out of the box and they were curious. Im going to decoy them with fake eggs.
Thanks again for your help! Its all trial and error for me.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Thanks Bunnylady! I appreciate the advice. I give them high protein feed with calcium and free feed oyster shells. I spent some time observing today. I'm thinking it could just be bad behavior. And I have to stop them like two year olds. The nesting boxes are milk crates with a thick pile of shavings. I'm pretty sure the little ones see the egg when the old one gets out of the box and they were curious. Im going to decoy them with fake eggs.
Thanks again for your help! Its all trial and error for me.

What is the percentage of protein? What one person considers "high" is often quite different from what another person would put in that same class - so knowing the actual content would be helpful.

 

[charmedbaker]

What is the percentage of protein?  What one person considers "high" is often quite different from what another person would put in that same class - so knowing the actual content would be helpful.

I feed them game bird crumble which has according to the lable, 21%. I have one turkey with the 6 chickens so everyone eats the game bird food.

 

[aart]

Are these birds new to laying?
Soft or thin shelled eggs, common with new layers, break easily and are fair game for eating IMO...
... and won't necessarily lead to the eating of hard shelled eggs.

Fake egg could help tho, as will gathering frequently.

 

[charmedbaker]

Are these birds new to laying?
Soft or thin shelled eggs, common with new layers, break easily and are fair game for eating IMO...
... and won't necessarily lead to the eating of hard shelled eggs.

Fake egg could help tho, as will gathering frequently.

Thanks!
There, are 6 hens: 3 are over 4 yrs old, 3 are about 18 weeks. The young ones are behaving badly.