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[freespiritbutterfly]

Apprently one of my chickens this morning while i was at college ate an egg but left the shell? Never had it happen before and I was just wondering whether she will be ok and if this is normal?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Em x

[Olly]

She'll be fine - answer, no they're not supposed to, but unfortunately some of them haven't read that chapter!

 

The trouble is, once they get a taste for it it can be hard to stop them. Try and remove the eggs as soon as possible, and you could try a golf-ball or a dummy egg in the nestbox (on the basis that when she's pecked it and got nowhere, she will go off the idea). I've also heard of people filling an eggshell with mustard.

 

There's absolutely no harm to the hen in eating her own egg, but it will be really annoying for you if she keeps doing it.

[freespiritbutterfly]

thank you

[jomaxsmith]

It might be that the eggshell was a little thin - I find that my girls will eat the soft eggs that Zee lays all too frequently but they don't bother breaking into normal shelled eggs (I hope I don't speak too soon!). You could try giving them extra calcium is you do notice them laying soft eggs.

 

Eggs themselves are quite good for the hens, I often give mine left over omelette or hard boiled eggs - as long as it doesn't look too much like raw egg which might give them ideas

 

Jo