Yolk on eggs

[martinliss]

We have 5 hens and recently we have been finding a small amount of yolk on our eggs with no sign of broken shells. What can be happening?

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Most likely your birds are eating the shells/egg. Try to provide your birds with extra calcium (I have started feeding my birds their shells back to them, crushed). That will probably take care of the problem, otherwise you can buy ceramic eggs to put in the next to discourage egg eating.

 

[sumi]

It sounds like you may have an egg eater over there. Either deliberate (bad habit), or accidental/opportunist (the egg broke when laid, so they ate it.

Here are some tips on breaking the habit:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/six-tips-on-breaking-your-egg-eater

To prevent breakages in the nest box, collect the eggs as often as possible, make sure you have enough nest boxes (1 per 3-4 hens is good) and enough soft materials to pad the boxes. Straw, grass, sand… etc.