Egg Eater??

Colleen Kinzie · Post by **Colleen Kinzie** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 5:22 pm

Have a buff oprpington hen that hatched eggs last year
She sat about 3/4 of the day yesterday
Broke one egg. Standing at door of pen to be let out (separate pen I let her in each day and back out again when she wants - until ready to set)
Today I put her back in and I noticed an egg rolled out of nest. Went back later to check on her. She was eating an egg!

All together 3 eggs broken and then eaten or just plan eaten
Is there still a chance for her ?
If not she is outta here!
Anyone got a broody hen of decent size they would like to part with. ????

Post by **Killerbunny** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 5:28 pm

I thought I had this problem but it was a girl laying thin shelled eggs that broke. Then the hen took advantage. I made sure to pull out the thin eggs and the problem went away. Hopefully it's something like that?

Colleen Kinzie · Post by **Colleen Kinzie** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 5:55 pm

Thanks Killerbunny
No these eggs are good hard shelled ones
Not sure what is going on with her!?

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:11 pm

Try more protein, especially meat. Give her some hamburger. Might work.

SandyM · Post by **SandyM** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:30 pm

I'm with Robbie, protein. Organs, chicken carcass, marrow bones.

Flat Rock Farm · Post by **Flat Rock Farm** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:42 pm

Does the nest have lots of straw or shavings?? I know mine kick it around so much and if the wood of the box is exposed and they eggs get kicked around they can accidentally get broken???

Post by **Home Grown Poultry** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:59 pm

I had a turkey hen that kept laying on a ledge in the big red barn. quite honestly the dumbest spot in the world, yup the whole entire world! nothing says nest about it AT ALL. there is like a half inch lip so the egg didnt always fall. 75% of the time it cracked on the wood 60% of the time I only found the empty shell. 25% of the time i actually found the entire egg unharmed. ohhhhhhhh turkeys! so guess where shes laying now? on top of an old dirt/burn pile remains... turkeys... smart ones LOL. there are 4 perfectly suitable turkey sized nest boxes, the geese use one, the other 2 turkeys lay right beside one of the nest boxes in the coop, i grabbed a piece of plywood and leaned it up against the wall and walked away happy. finally a turkey lays in a nest box, well sort of

HAHA

where was I going with this? oh yeah the turkey hen that laid on the ledge would eat her egg 60% of the time after it hit the wood and cracked.

ahhh shoot turkeys are awesome!

Colleen Kinzie · Post by **Colleen Kinzie** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:03 pm

Thanks everyone. They are on balanced layer ration. So should be getting everything they need
Paula there is shaving and straw the last egg was nestled nice in the middle and she was just chowing down

I was shocked as she's had these eggs under her each day for over a week now
I smell soup. Lol

Post by **Home Grown Poultry** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:20 pm

Soup is good too! :lunch: chunky soup, the soup you eat with a fork and a knife! hahahaha

Colleen Kinzie · Post by **Colleen Kinzie** » Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:31 pm

Good one Al.

She's chunky alright. Living the good life here
Just ticks me off. A nice large hen like her can cover ALOT of eggs to incubate. And she did hatch some last year. That's why I'm puzzled at this behaviour!