Question about soiled eggs + chickens eating eggs!!!

[ray6082]

First, some of my chickens have begun randomly laying eggs inside the run. This led to dirty, soiled eggs. Without really thinking, I just collected them and put them in my bushel basket that I kept in the fridge for the eggs I collect until I wash them. If an egg was particularly soiled or wet, I would just pitch it.

I washed them today and usually I probably wouldn't be all too nervous, but I'm almost 20 weeks pregnant. Should I just throw the ones that were really soiled away to be safe? I'm not sure if since they were laid in the mud if the bloom washed off/bacteria soaked through.

Transitioning--normally I wouldn't even bother keeping soiled eggs, but I had been getting eggs very few and far between this winter and now a few of my hens (and roo) have discovered a taste for eggs seeing as a few had been cracked and tasted. So I'm not getting many as it is. I've read about roll away boxes on here, but I'm not sure they can be assembled the way our coops currently are. It only seems like the chickens are eating eggs from the one coop/nesting areas and not the other. Chickens are so odd. Any advice?!?! I'm getting so frustrated with them and just want some eggs!!!

 

[cavemanrich]

I understand your concern about carrying a lil angel, and possibly eating a bad egg. Here is my view. Use precautions when handling eggs in your cooking. I do this with my eggs, as well as store purchased eggs. When I break open eggs,, I do so at same time for all that I need. I then wash my hands. Have always done this.. The cooking of eggs will kill all the bacteria that may be present. If not sure,, cook a little longer. I like my eggs over medium. when fried. Never encountered a problem that I could associate to eating eggs. I assume boiling eggs will do same to kill the possible bacteria that may be present.
Generally the bloom on eggs will protect the eggs from bacteria entering past/thru the shell. If egg falls into wet mud, or otherwise, some of that protection can be erased. Washing will remove the bacteria present on the exterior, and then such eggs need to be refrigerated. Bacteria does not grow well in refrigerated environments. (inside refrigerator)
When you go to use your eggs,,(or store purchased) , just apply the precautions I described above.

Do not have any immediate suggestions on preventing chickens from eating eggs. It is a hard habit to break/overcome.
The eggs that do break on their own,, are often weak shells. That translates to low end calcium in chickens diet. Offer all your spent egg shells back to your chickens. Also offer cracked oyster shells free-choice. (even when you are using Layer Feed.)
Strong egg shells will be resistant to easy breakage.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Acre4Me]

Egg eater chickens are annoying!! We have had some do this here and there, and it can be hard to break. We put fake eggs in the nest, and we also checked for eggs a few times a day. The fake eggs don’t crack, so no reward. Then removing eggs means that the egg eater(s) hopefully doesn’t get a chance to eat any.

The other issue is WHY they are eating eggs. It is possible it is nutrition. We changed our feed to a 20% all flock so protein was increased. We saw a general improvement in the flock and flock behaviors after this (less feather picking, less bullying). If you want to keep your same feed, but increase protein, there are a few ways to go this, including providing minimal treats- often, those chickens are so cute to treat that they get too much treats, and not enough balanced -made for them feed. Even if they have all day access to feed, they generally don’t overeat, so too many treats can fill them up.

Calcium: if you are feeding layer feed it should have the needed calcium. But, anything else then they need crushed oyster shells available to them.

Roll away nest boxes: we made one according to a published plan. We did not have much success with it. Maybe it was a less effective design…but most are pretty similar it seems. We redid all the nest boxes after a couple of years. No roll-away for now. We have several nest boxes, of which 2 are favorites. When new chicks are beginning to lay, there is often a line up at the nest boxes…sometimes they would be 2 in a single smaller nest box!! At these high production times, we sometimes add nest boxes - kitty litter buckets work well (on their side, leave the small lid portion to keep in the nesting material), or a crate, or even a sturdy cardboard box. Then there are alternate/different nests for them to pick and less movement where there are laid eggs to get trampled or cracked…inviting the chickens to eat the eggs.

Good luck!

 

[Ms Rose]

Are they eating eggs that have been laid in the nest boxes? If so, I read that adding curtains to the boxes will help as they can't see when it's dark in the box, so they can't see and don't eat them.