Unsecure chicken perches

[ewoodpugz]

Hi

My three have been laying really well since we got them we were getting on average one egg one day, two eggs every other day. I started them on ex batt crumbs, then pellets and now they are on layers pellets. Ever since then we have been getting 2xeggs a day. Not sure who is laying, who isn't. Anyway, last few days there have been some strange goings on: one egg laid at 9pm at night in the middle of the run, and last two days one smashed egg in the next box. What could be causing this? I'm wondering if it's something to do with the heat?? Seems strange that they could suddenly become 'clumsy' or are they pecking at the eggs? Any ideas greatly appreciated. They're behaviour otherwise has been 100% normal.

Thanks

[Olly]

I don't know about the egg laid at 9pm, although they can lay at funny times. A smashed egg however suggests to me that you have an egg-eater, and once they get a taste for it it can be hard to stop. Can you remove the eggs as soon as they're laid?

[ewoodpugz]

Most of the time I collect them pretty swiftly but it's not always possible. The odd thing is that there were two eggs in today but only one smashed. Would they just eat one? I guess the other could've been later after.