CatieB Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 I apologise I'm sure this must have been done before but I don't seem to get the search function and come up with all sorts I have three chickens and usually get three eggs a day without fail. Sometimes recently I've been getting two. I have also had a few eggs recently that have been dirty and have not realised until today that the dirt is yolk / egg mess. I put the two things together today as the nest was cleaned out yesterday so today find two beautiful eggs and a filthy nest box covered in broken egg mess. Should I put it down to accident or am I looking for a more sinister cause. Has one decided to eat eggs? Does this just begin to happen for no reason? I'm pretty sure nothing else is getting in as the cube is based on a outer skirt of paving slabs and I can't see any holes in the middle of the run. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 It may be that one of them is laying soft shelled eggs which break really easily. It would be worth having a good look at the eggy mess to see if there is any trace of a thin or jelly like shell. If so I would cut out treats and ensure they are getting a decent quantity of pellets or mash. You may want to consider adding a little calcium/vit D to food -(crushed baked egg shells, zolcal D, limestone flour&cod liver oil, or perhaps lifeguard which is a general supplement). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatieB Posted October 26, 2010 Author Share Posted October 26, 2010 Thank you but I don't think it is thin shell - I've looked at the remnant- also doesn't grit /oyster shell help with that? They currently have loads of grit in their pellets as DH accidently mixed it all in and they free range nearly all day. The mystery goes on... can they just decide to eat eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Gas Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 Some of mine have layed shell- less eggs but only a blip normally. When I found the first one - I nearly put the frying pan in there.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 can they just decide to eat eggs Unfortunately, yes. Once they get a taste for it, it can be a hard habit to break. You could try a few ceramic eggs in the nest box. A couple of pecks at those will hurt a bit and may give them the message. Some folk fill eggshells with mustard, which is said to be successful. Darkening the nest box so that they can't see the eggs is also recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatieB Posted October 27, 2010 Author Share Posted October 27, 2010 A broken egg again this morning but I noticed that the eggs are always VERY close together and the other two are untouched. Does that rule out egg eating - cos would they all be eaten - and quite a portion of the egg is left including the shell. Could it just be accidental or clumsy sitting on them? What I find odd and don't know how to remedy is why they all have to lay in the same place when I have a cube and it is always the exact same place without fail. If it is egg eating sorry to be stupid but how do you put mustard inside a shell? Sounds like some blue peter task Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 If it is egg eating sorry to be stupid but how do you put mustard inside a shell? Sounds like some blue peter task You can blow the content out of an egg, but it seems a shame to waste a decent egg, and is a bit of a faff. I have used a couple of half egg shells, filled them both with mustard and used some gaffer tape to keep the halves together before now. Horseradish seems to work too. They love the taste of chilli evidently. I tried that once (I had a jar of Lazy Chilli that was past its use by date) and they wolfed it down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 They love the taste of chilli evidently. I tried that once (I had a jar of Lazy Chilli that was past its use by date) and they wolfed it down. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatieB Posted October 28, 2010 Author Share Posted October 28, 2010 I have learnt a valuable lesson.......... never doubt a moderator I stalked the girls this morning so that I could recover the eggs in tact. I got the two normal ones and on recovery of the third it seemed normal but then as I walked inside I broke the shell On careful inspection it was a normal egg but just slightly soft or thin at the ends of it. Now the girls have oyster shell added to their food and are currently free ranging more than normal. Does that mean they are not getting all the goodness from their pellets? Should I limit their FR so that they are filling up first on the pellets? Thanks for your help and sorry CM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
