What am I doing wrong?? Egg Eaters

[Leasmom1013]

Just found this! If it continues, definitely a good budget alternative to roll out nesting boxes:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/roll-away-boxes-using-paint-trays.1452875/

Thank you

 

[Ahoragi]

This is just out of my imagination but in theory could you take a few egg shells from breakfast and add something in them that they will dislike eating and attach them back together then leave em in the coop? They will attempt to eat it and realize it's terrible and maybe never do it again.

But I had a similar smaller issue where they were eating eggs occasionally and I was feeding them alot of scratch grains and pepper snack mix from TSC daily. I cut all that out and focused on layer feed 16% and they stopped. I now do 50/50 layer feed/starter feed for added protein and everything's been peachy. I only give sunflower seeds or eggs during extreme cold days and nights.

 

[Folly's place]

I disagree about 20% protein feed being too much! It's fine for chickens, with the oyster shell on the side, and again, insoluble grit in another separate dish. My birds have been inside for at least a month now too, because of the snow cover, and we had a hawk attack recently too. They need that grit container inside!
And chickens are omnivores, not vegetarians, so some animal protein is necessary, and the balanced feeds have added lysine and methionine to make up for the lack of more expensive animal parts.
Mary

 

[Leasmom1013]

This is just out of my imagination but in theory could you take a few egg shells from breakfast and add something in them that they will dislike eating and attach them back together then leave em in the coop? They will attempt to eat it and realize it's terrible and maybe never do it again.

But I had a similar smaller issue where they were eating eggs occasionally and I was feeding them alot of scratch grains and pepper snack mix from TSC daily. I cut all that out and focused on layer feed 16% and they stopped. I now do 50/50 layer feed/starter feed for added protein and everything's been peachy. I only give sunflower seeds or eggs during extreme cold days and nights.

I was hoping to use the extra fake eggs for that. I’m thinking about getting some golf balls to make it even more unpleasant for them to chip at. But I have now cut off their treats and they were pretty confused but hopefully that causes them to eat more of their feed and hopefully that helps. I’ll update everyone. Thanks.

 

[nuthatched]

Baking soda causes an alkaline environment which breaks down the oligosaccarides. (the complex sugars which normally require complex fermentation to break down, thus causing gas and bloating), also since it is an alkaline there is no need to counter the natural acid components created in the digestion process. Protien digestion is a naturally acid producing process, and requires alot of work from the kidneys to filter it and other toxins out, which is the main reason there is a cap on how much protien give a hen in the first place. Most creatures (including hens) use dietary OR bodily calcium to counter excess blood acid levels. Too much protein in the diet without the other properly balanced ingredients can actually cause kidney damage and make her to go into ketoacidosis, which would further deprive her of calcium and eventually cause death for too much acid in the blood. This is why when you feed 20% feed it is supposed to be for a shorter amount of time during high protein needs Like molting season, and even then you are supposed to offer extra calcium and it will still increase the chance of egg binding.
The high protien feeds you are getting mostly get their protien from soybeans, sunflower seeds and peas anyway. These are used instead of other because you can get enough protien for cheaper without causing problems, but due to the extra oil in the sunflower and soy beans, as well as the phytoestrogens in the soy, either one of those has problems as the main protien source, peas are great and offer complete protien but are more expensive than the other 2 and also have very little calcium, unlike the soy. They use this mix NOT because it is the most nutritious, but because it is the cheapest for mass production without causing high chances of problems. This mix maxes the egg production artificially with the soy (and other thibgs they put in) actually causing your hen to "burn out" faster. Hens fed on carefully constructed higher quality feed, or just allowed to get most of their nutrients from free ranging, have consistently been found to lay slightly less eggs per year but keep laying for years past the "norm" with a 5year old hen being common to still laying often. Mixing your own feed is entirely possible, and would potentially create a much more balanced and healthy diet, but requires much research and study and math. Anyone without extensive biology and nutrition background is probably not going to be able to do it. All this said, to just boost your protien amounts without causing problems, white beans soaked in baking soda water, about 1 tsp per lb, before being cooked (feel free to rinse it before cooking) is an excellent and safe way to increase the protein while not causing acid or kidney problems. You can also try meal worms or black soldier fly larvae, but you will need to offer extra calcium and not maintain it for long.

I'm sorry, I don't intend to insult you but what you're saying really does read as cobbled together a.i results. It might be the way some sentences contradict others.

The cap on protein, before it starts to cause issues is about 28%-30% for some birds. 18-20 is well underneath that supposedly harmful levels, and can be kept their whole lives. Though most people who feed standard 16% layer do switch to higher during molt or heavy laying.
I feed 18-22 percent depending on what I have access to.

Thank you bringing up balanced diet, the best way to maintain a balanced diet and boost protein is to feed a higher protein formulated (balanced) feed, not to add extra protein treats such as larva or beans etc.
It's also easier and cheaper.

Higher protein helps support the whole hen and her laying, it doesn't cause a hen to lay, that is a matter of light induced hormones.
Higher protein doesn't cause egg binding but yes, they definitely need a secondary source of calcium if the feed is not a layer formula.

Nor does it cause hens to 'over lay' and burn out quicker.
A hen is born with only so many ova, some go through their 'stock' quicker, it's not a product of diet.

Reproductive issue can be found in any hen, however certain high production hens are much more prone to them, and that's often compounded by poor diet or one that's high in treats.

Formulated feed doesn't contain "other things" that force laying, (or stop laying). this particular social media scuttlebutt has been disproven many times over.

 

[McChooky]

I had chickens a very long time ago and never had the problems I seem to be having the last three years after getting chickens again. My first flock in 2023 started eating eggs and I did everything I possibly could. I bought rollaway nesting boxes, I stalked them. I removed any cracked eggs which was like battling vultures, as you know. I checked multiple times a day. But it got to the point that they stopped using the nesting box in order to eat the eggs. They would surround the laying hen and immediately eat her egg, shell and all. I gave them garden scraps and even grass and weeds that I gathered daily. Literally was cutting grass by hand to give them. So I raised a different flock and sold them to someone who had other chickens and a rooster.

I raised these 5 new hens and did the exact same thing. But because of the winter, they were just starting to give me 4 eggs per day. But I witnessed my only Easter Egger crack open an egg and they ate it just a few days ago. I was upset and figured they were bored because we had a huge amount of snow and they are enclosed by local ordinance and so I decided to toss out scratch more frequently, adding different things like cooked beans or whatever I had including some garden scraps because I’m still gardening indoors.

Mind you, I give them a feed that’s 16% protein. I make a homemade scratch mix for them adding spinach I grew and dehydrated specifically for them, oyster shell, split peas and all kinds of stuff including Black soldier Fly larvae. I even froze pumpkin seeds and skin for them for the winter. I usually toss out the scratch once a day and I give them food scraps a few hours later.

So yesterday as I went to give them another cup of scratch, I saw them eating an egg. I got the egg out as best as I could and today so far, I heard the sound of an Egg Layer, I decided to put two fake eggs in their run. I go out and there’s no egg and one of the fake eggs is also missing. The main one doing the egg cracking is my only Easter Egger and also the Head Hen and they are the only two out of all five that lays inside the nesting boxes. What do I do?? And what am I doing wrong??

I buy an all flock or rooster mix with whole grains 20% protein with calcium on the side.(mine free range- no egg eaters) If you keep having this problem with your chickens eating their eggs cut back on grass,scraps, treats and make them eat their feed only. If they don't have enough room and are bored they will also pick each others feathers out

 

[Leasmom1013]

I buy an all flock or rooster mix with whole grains 20% protein with calcium on the side.(mine free range- no egg eaters) If you keep having this problem with your chickens eating their eggs cut back on treats and make them eat their feed. If they don't have enough room and are bored they will also pick each others feathers out

Thank you

 

[McChooky]

Thank you

Its difficult not to feed them other stuff besides feed but in order for them to lay good and get their daily requirements met they must eat the feed.You can add water to layer feed and make them a mash too

 

[Leasmom1013]

Its difficult not to feed them other stuff besides feed but in order for them to lay good and get their daily requirements met they must eat the feed.You can add water to layer feed and make them a mash too

Thanks.

 

[McChooky]

Yo

Thanks.

Your welcome. Free ranging chickens in a fenced yard can help prevent social problems and health problems .Being confined in a small space can cause a lot of problems.