3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[Magso12]

Yesterday I found a broken egg in the egg box I didn't think much of it at the time - thought it was an accident. When I went to collect the eggs today there were two eggs and a gooey mess in the egg box, even the shell had been eaten. I don't know which of the three little devils has suddenly developed a taste for the eggs. How do I find out and how do I get her to stop Any ideas please

[Chucky Mama]

Are you sure that they aren't soft eggs shelless eggs that have been laid rather than eggs that they have tried to eat?

[Magso12]

Not sure about today's egg, but yesterday I found the broken egg with a proper shell on it.

[Sue]

It is a difficult time of year for the hens, as many will be beginning to moult and grow new feathers, and the extra energy demands means they cannot produce an egg with a good strong shell. After any hen has laid its egg it inspects it with its beak, probably to check its strength (don't forget hens actually lay their eggs with the intention of sitting on them for a few weeks - a propensity we humans have deliberately bred out of them) so weak shelled eggs need to be removed, and the best way is to eat it, - easy and quick recycling

 

I like to have oystershell grit on offer, and if the shells are getting thin, maybe add a little cod liver oil to the feed, as calcium cannot be absorbed without the appropriate vitamins.

 

In the short term you can -

Offer milk - this can be a quick fix to a calcium problem

Collect the eggs as often as possible

Buy or make a roll away nest box

Try a pepper egg

For persistent egg eaters use spectacles - If you are quick you may see yolk round the beak or face of the offender

 

All the best

Sue

Dark Brown Eggs

[Magso12]

Only two eggs again this morning, but no signs of one having been eaten! Matilda has just started moulting so this might explain it. I didn't realise that moulting affected their egg production as well. Thanks for the info - very helpful. I expect Henrietta will start moulting soon as well, she is a similar age to Matilda. It seems a strange time of year to moult with winter approaching

[Sue]

I think hens would naturally choose to moult when the breeding season was finished (as the days shorten) and then they would re-grow their feathers. As they are probably descended from Malyasian Jungle Fowl, perhaps the cold weather was not such a problem

 

all the best

Sue

Dark Brown Eggs

[Charlie7]

I have heard that people blow an egg and put strong mustard in it. Then they place it in the nest-box and when the chickens taste or just smell it they will find it very unpleasant and stop eating eggs.

Haven't tried it myself.