They ate it

[HarleyJane22]

so it’s hot, I was outside watering down the hens and checking their water. I noticed one was all fluffed up. I was watching her. Suddenly she lays an egg with no shell. Before I could get to it, the girls descended on it and gobbled it down. Now, I understand they will do this. I’m wondering if this will make them egg eaters?

 

[Alabama Fly]

It shouldn't. They have obviously seen those before and know that they are easily broken and delicious. I doubt that they will graduate to breaking the others. If you think they might, put a few mustard filled eggs in the nest box. I've had chickens about 40 years now and the only egg eater I've had was a little cochin hen who had learned by accident that if she kicked the ceramic dummy egg and a fresh egg together into the wooden edge of the nest box enough times that she could crack the egg. She gave herself away by the loud thumping,knocking noise.lol. once I removed the dummy the egg eating stopped. Also don't tell anyone but I often throw the extra dirty poopy eggs to my girls. Always have. Not recommending anyone do this though.

 

[HarleyJane22]

It shouldn't. They have obviously seen those before and know that they are easily broken and delicious. I doubt that they will graduate to breaking the others. If you think they might, put a few mustard filled eggs in the nest box. I've had chickens about 40 years now and the only egg eater I've had was a little cochin hen who had learned by accident that if she kicked the ceramic dummy egg and a fresh egg together into the wooden edge of the nest box enough times that she could crack the egg. She gave herself away by the loud thumping,knocking noise.lol. once I removed the dummy the egg eating stopped. Also don't tell anyone but I often throw the extra dirty poopy eggs to my girls. Always have. Not recommending anyone do this though.

Thank you. These are my first chickens, so I just wanted to make sure. Boy they really went for that egg! It was impressive.
Sounds like you had quite the character!

 

[Alabama Fly]

I think it's their favorite food. She is a character. She gives hugs also. If I hold her against me she snuggles her head against my neck. So sweet.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

I'm worried about the hen that laid the egg. Did she just lay it out in the open? She's probably sick, and might be passing germs to the other hens when they eat the egg.
I'm not good with diseases, though. If it continues, you might start a new thread in the "health/diseases/emergencies" forum.

 

[dunnmom]

Mine have eaten an occasional egg before, but it's because it broke in the nestbox due to being thin shelled. After I see that happen, I give eggshells for calcium and add ceramic eggs to the nestboxes. Never see peck-holes in any eggs.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

My new layers have all laid soft shell eggs several times, and they ate them, too, but haven't touched the hard shell eggs. I keep some plastic easter eggs in the nesting box. I filled them with sand and hot glued them shut. The chickens pecked at them at first but now leave them alone and don't bother the eggs they lay in there. Mine also don't lay the soft shell eggs in the nesting box.

 

[aart]

I'm worried about the hen that laid the egg. Did she just lay it out in the open? She's probably sick, and might be passing germs to the other hens when they eat the egg.
I'm not good with diseases, though. If it continues, you might start a new thread in the "health/diseases/emergencies" forum.

Not likely.
Softshells can happen for many reasons.
Even if she was 'sick' the other birds would have already been exposed and eating the egg would not really increase their chances of getting more 'germs'.

I’m wondering if this will make them egg eaters?

Probably not, tho have had a serial thin shell layer and a couple of the birds actively scouted out those easy to break eggs.

How old is this girl...and how long has she been laying??
The heat stress could have something to do with it.
I'd not worry unless you see it happen repeatedly.

 

[HarleyJane22]

Not likely.
Softshells can happen for many reasons.
Even if she was 'sick' the other birds would have already been exposed and eating the egg would not really increase their chances of getting more 'germs'.

Probably not, tho have had a serial thin shell layer and a couple of the birds actively scouted out those easy to break eggs.

How old is this girl...and how long has she been laying??
The heat stress could have something to do with it.
I'd not worry unless you see it happen repeatedly.

They just turned 6 months and have been laying for 3weeks. I know the new layers have to work out the kinks. So I’m not going to stress too much.

 

[HarleyJane22]

My new layers have all laid soft shell eggs several times, and they ate them, too, but haven't touched the hard shell eggs. I keep some plastic easter eggs in the nesting box. I filled them with sand and hot glued them shut. The chickens pecked at them at first but now leave them alone and don't bother the eggs they lay in there. Mine also don't lay the soft shell eggs in the nesting box.

That’s good to hear. The girls and I are all new to this. I have golf balls in the nesting box to give them a hint where to lay. It’s been working.