Successful breaking of egg eaters

[heby]

My chickens seem to be molting already. They are just now a year old. I noticed that egg laying had slowed down as I was hardly getting any eggs. We have an old dog crate that they usually lay in. Today my husband seen one of my hens come out of the crate and another chicken or two immediately went in and ate the egg. So im assuming even tho laying has slacked, they are eating the ones that are being laid. Has anyone successfully broken a chicken from egg eating or is it a lost cause? I'm sure it probably has been going on a couple of weeks. What is odd is a chicken laid an egg in the run and no one ate it. They only ate the one in the box. I read to offer oyster shell. I have never had to do that so I am putting it out there today. Also how much protein should I give them? We have layer pellets with 18 or 20% protein. Thank you for any advice and help.

 

[theoldchick]

If an egg is broken it will get eaten. Since chickens like to lay in the same nest box you will occasionally end up with a broken egg. Two hens struggling over who gets to use the box next may break an egg while fighting. Soft shelled eggs will get broken, too. The best way to prevent this is to get a roll-away nest box. Here is an example of one version:

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

My hen Shiloh would eat any egg that was layed in her favorite nesting spot before she laid. I'd take oyster shells, mix them into the feed so the birds would eat them, and she'd stop eating eggs. With Shiloh, it was a constant battle. I always had to make certain that she had her oyster shells, or there goes any egg laid before hers. That's my experience, but other people might have other advice. I strongly suggest the oyster shells either mixed in their feed, or spred out in their run.

 

[heby]

If an egg is broken it will get eaten. Since chickens like to lay in the same nest box you will occasionally end up with a broken egg. Two hens struggling over who gets to use the box next may break an egg while fighting. Soft shelled eggs will get broken, too. The best way to prevent this is to get a roll-away nest box. Here is an example of one version: View attachment 2698748

Thank you! I have told my husband that his next job is to build a roll away. Its def not that the eggs are cracked. They have been laying for months in the crate. It is a med/large size plastic dog crate so there is plenty of room for multiple ones to go inside and lay at same time. They used to lay in there 2 at a time. Only other thing I can think of that is different is that it used to flood with ever rain so I fixed it so it wouldn't. I cleaned it out and added hay which they kicked all out. So unless changing it a little made them upset