Why does my silkie peck her eggs right after she lays them?

[Dbaas]

New to egg ownership! Just wondering why she does that. We take them away (which makes me feel bad) but I wait a couple minutes to see what she will do and she pecks them every time. Thought silkies were good mommas???

I love her no matter tho! Don't get me wrong!

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Does she peck and break the egg?


A couple of my hens, after they lay an egg, will roll it around into a new position then sit for a bit. Could she be moving it to sit?


ETA - ooops should say I do not have silkies

 

[Dbaas]

Yes that definitely could be.

She pecks once and then I take it away for fear she will break it

i'm a little bit of a worrier

 

[usschicago1]

She Could Be an Egg Eater. Keep A CLOSE eye on her...Add some hard fake eggs in there too

 

[feathersnuggles]

Hens will roll and peck an egg to test its shell for strength. A farmer at the farmer's market told me they are checking the shell for its ability to provide a successful hatch. A weak shelled egg would break, killing the chick inside and threatening the entire hatch. Thus, for the hen who "tests" her eggs, it is all about providing for her reproductive success.

That's why it is good to offer hens additional calcium such as crushed oyster shell. They will still test the egg shells, but if the shell is nice and hard, they will not break it open. Also make sure boredom isn't an issue for the flock or they may "play" with the eggs to entertain themselves and eventually they will break even a hard shell.

 

[clucky2]

Wow! that's so interesting. My girls were pecking ( not eating ) an occasional egg. At the time, I was mixing oyster shell in the feed. Now it's available on the side. I think they eat more this way, as thier shells are stronger, and no more poked eggs! They also have wooden eggs in the nest boxes. They like em.

 

[feathersnuggles]

Yep, I put a golf ball into each of the nest boxes, too. It helps -- as does the crushed oyster shell in a free-choice dish, available all the time.