| Author |
Barnyard Buddies:  So why do chickens eat their eggs?  |
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 10 2012 : 09:53:47 AM
|
A friend of mine said her chickens are eating their eggs. I know someone said why here but I can't remember since mine don't. Hers are cooped up in a not very big area. I know that's one reason. She has penned up some and it would stop. But she can't seem to get to the eggs fast enough. I told her I would ask y'all. Thanks.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
|
|
MEWolf
True Blue Farmgirl
358 Posts
Margaret
Byers
Colorado
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2012 : 1:34:45 PM
|
Maybe they need more calcium in their diets?
Margaret
“Kind hearts are the gardens, kind thoughts are the roots, kind words are the flowers, kind deeds are the fruits. Take care of your garden and keep out the weeds, fill it with sunshine, kind words and kind deeds.” ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1808-1882)
Farmgirl #3020
www.grey-wolf-farm.com |
 |
|
|
RedHoopWoman
True Blue Farmgirl
513 Posts
Kathryn
Yoder
Colorado
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2012 : 1:46:56 PM
|
I think overcrowding and stress or boredom can cause egg eating,also a lack of protein they say can cause it so your friend could try throwing down alot of straw and material for them to scratch through to alleviate boredom and she could try upping thier protein if that might be an issue.
I try to give my chickens alot of high protein scraps from the kitchen and also give them things like the occasional heart or liver from the butchered rabbits or other animals and I also give them the drowned mice from my live rodent traps to supplement thier protein,some people send thier young kids out to shoot small critters to give to the chickens for extra protein.
Some chickens just seem to develop the habit of egg eating for no apparent reason,leaving the eggs sitting too long sometimes encourages this behavior so gathering frequently helps,I think I would cull any chicken who is a bonafide egg eater because it seems to catch on with the others too.
Hope this helps,good luck to your friend.
"Today's Mighty Oak is just Yesterday's Nut" |
|
|
|
batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2012 : 2:11:15 PM
|
Redhooplady is correct...stress sounds to be the big factor here with small area they are all sharing....Chickens are pack birds but they also need areas where they can spread their wings so to speak...when they can't turn around without bumping into another they get quite pissy & moody...more fights occur......tension grows & more bad behaviors begin like eating eggs...plus I am sure there are some that aren't getting all the feed they need as they will have to fight to get to it...so they are lacking in proteins........She may be getting more eggs doing this but she is also creating too much stress for the chickens which in time may decrease the amount of eggs they will produce......if she can extend their area a bit even with just chicken wire that would help greatly....or even use metal dog crates to put 2 in at a time outside on the grass...yes they are contained but they can peck at the ground & get away from some of the more aggressive hens plus she can put feed in there to make sure they are getting the food they need during the day before she puts them to bed......but it sounds like until she extends they living area she will have this problem......Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622
http://theoldbatzfarm.blogger.com |
|
|
|
Farmtopia
True Blue Farmgirl
1465 Posts
Zan
New York
New York
USA
1465 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2012 : 6:28:29 PM
|
Yes, it could be diet. Is there enough oyster shell and other high protein free choice food being given. Besides that, your secondary problem is that once a chicken starts egg-eating, its a habit that is difficult to stop, so they would have to be vigilant in collecting the eggs. I've heard of such extreme instances where people have culled the egg-eating culprit, but at least they should try all of these suggestions on the hens first.
~*~Dream all you dreamers~*~
View My Work:
art/dolls: www.vagabondcreations.blogspot.com
The Horse Drawn Project and Farming!
www.beyondvagabond.com
View the blog and radio show!
Renegade Farming!: www.therenegadefarmer.com
|
|
|
|
sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2012 : 6:49:22 PM
|
we have had this issue before. i always check their beaks. they will have yolk on them we turn them out to pasture to live they never stop. they teach the others. it makes a mess in the nest boxes too. kris i feed mine the fat and some meat from the butcher. i feed it raw hope this helps.
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
|
|
|
|
windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4239 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4239 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2012 : 04:35:23 AM
|
you can also try feeding feed lime. I think that is what it is called. They need more calcium.
Michele |
|
|
|
rksmith
True Blue Farmgirl
858 Posts
Rachel
Clayton
GA
USA
858 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2012 : 05:30:10 AM
|
Because they're so good!!! But really, what RedHoopLady said and we give ours a calcium supplement and have not had any egg eating.
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one's own self being fully realised-- His Holiness the Dali Lama
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
|
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2012 : 07:55:20 AM
|
Thank you all for all these great suggestions. I will tell her everything that was mentioned. But I think until she makes their coop area bigger, she's going to keep having this problem. She also homeschools so does.t have time to run out there all day to get the eggs. Thanks again.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
|
|
|
oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2012 : 08:21:27 AM
|
once in a while, a hen might put a toenail thru a shell, and then they taste it cause its food, and then they start just pecking at their eggs, it cracks and here we go...it turns into a cycle which is all but impossible to break, then its monkey see, monkey do...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
|
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2012 : 08:39:38 AM
|
I have dropped eggs before and you should see the pile of feathers on that egg. I try to cover it up as fast as I can but they know it's there. As far as I know, none of mine are breaking any eggs. I did have a very soft shelled egg that cracked when I picked it up. I gave it to the dogs. So I think I need to give mine some more meat and some oyster shell.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
|
|
|
YakLady
True Blue Farmgirl
652 Posts
Natalie
Montana
USA
652 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2012 : 1:26:35 PM
|
My chickens did eat an egg once- We feed back their shells for Calcium on top of grit. We didn't use to smash them up enough and they figured out "Hey! I know where these come from!" and they all worked together on a single egg. Now we just make sure to crush the shells well, and it never happened again in over 18 months :)
However, that could be because they weren't overcrowded or stressed- they have acreage to roam and more feed than they need :)
~Natalie~ Just a farmgirl in Western Montana. http://mtnme.blogspot.com
Starting a family and raising Tibetan Yaks, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Laying hens, Muscovy ducks, and a few dogs. |
|
|
|
RedHoopWoman
True Blue Farmgirl
513 Posts
Kathryn
Yoder
Colorado
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2012 : 10:27:08 AM
|
Like Natalie I also feed back the crushed eggshells to my chickens it's a great low cost supplement for them but like she said they have to be well crushed or you might give them some ideas! I don't give mine oyster shell at all but offer them pelleted lay mash,DE and corn along with the crushed eggshells offered free choice and I also give them lots of kitchen scraps.I once had a hen who ate eggs habitually but I gave her the King Henry treatment and had no further issues with egg eating :)
"Today's Mighty Oak is just Yesterday's Nut" |
|
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2012 : 3:28:11 PM
|
I put all my egg shells in my compost bucket and that all goes into the little cold frame where I feed the back tribe of hens so they can scratch up the dirt in there. I used to wash the shells and crush them. I don't anymore. They obiosly eat them because they aren't there. Or it could be the 2 big bad dogs that jump in there to eat too. Hmmm. That's why I have to keep the cat house door shut so they can't get in and get to the eggs in there. They must need them too.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
|
|
|
Amy_Beth
Farmgirl in Training
31 Posts
AmyBeth
Paradise
CA
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2012 : 08:47:16 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by YakLady
My chickens did eat an egg once- We feed back their shells for Calcium on top of grit. We didn't use to smash them up enough and they figured out "Hey! I know where these come from!" and they all worked together on a single egg. Now we just make sure to crush the shells well, and it never happened again in over 18 months :)
However, that could be because they weren't overcrowded or stressed- they have acreage to roam and more feed than they need :)
~Natalie~ Just a farmgirl in Western Montana. http://mtnme.blogspot.com
Starting a family and raising Tibetan Yaks, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Laying hens, Muscovy ducks, and a few dogs.
I am so glad I found this in my search! I never thought of crushing the egg shells and adding them on top of the feed! One (or more) of my hens are pecking at the eggs, hopefully doing this will help!
Farmgirl Sister #3936 |
|
|
| |
Barnyard Buddies: So why do chickens eat their eggs? |
|
So why do chickens eat their eggs?
