Soft egg and chickens eating them

[BrittanyL15]

Hello fellow chicken people!

I have 3 19 week old Rhode island reds that I have been waiting to lay. I just switched them to dumor organic layer feed last week. They have been really noisy, squatting when I go to pet them, and their combs popped and got super bright so for the past 2 weeks I've been saying any day now! Well today the day came and what a disappointment. I went to open the run door and one of my chickens was in laying position right in the entrance of the run. She laid a soft shelled egg right in front of my eyes and before I could grab it another one of my chickens took it and ran under the coop where all 3 ate it. I'm at a loss. Wondering now if they have been laying but eating the eggs. Why did she lay a soft egg? Why wasn't she in a nest box? Why did they eat it? Does anyone have any advise or insight? I just dont have any idea where to start and what to do.

 

[NuggetTheChicken]

When my chickens began to lay, they layed everywhere but the nesting box. I had to put fake ceramic eggs in the nesting boxes, until they got the idea. Usually, they lay their eggs where other chickens lay them. My chickens also layed a few soft shelled eggs, so did my ducks when they began to lay. My theory is that since they are new to laying, they have a few glitches happen that cause things like double yolks, no shell, misshapen eggs, etc. They must have accidentally broken one soft egg one day and decided to eat it. My chickens also ate their eggs in the beginning, but the fake eggs helped, they dried to crack into them, couldn't, so they quit trying. First, I would increase protein and calcium. You are already feeding layer, but maybe they need a little bit more calcium. Some oyster shell should do the trick. As for the protein, cat food, catfish food work great. Maybe they need some extra protein, that is why they are eating eggs. Second, buy some fake eggs. I suggest you buy the wooden ones, because the ceramic ones are quite fragile. Mark them with a marker so you don't try to crack them for breakfast (been there, done that). Put a few each in one or two nest boxes. Hopefully that should help with your problem .

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Why did she lay a soft egg? Why wasn't she in a nest box? Why did they eat it? Does anyone have any advise or insight? I just dont have any idea where to start and what to do.

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

It's a new layer hiccup. The shell gland is still coming online and working out it's distribution kinks. Otherwise, the pullet would sacrifice her own calcium to make hard shells for as long as possible even with a deficient diet ultimately leading to brittle bones, etc.

Not in the nest box because it wasn't a hard egg or recognized as such. Probably felt more like a poop. Sometimes happens overnight from the roost.

They ate it because chickens inspect everything with their mouth. And when they accidentally got a taste of it, discovered the deliciousness. Known as a happy accident.. and should NOT lead to egg eating! Birds don't eat eggs for extra protein.. their 64% fat and 34% protein but it's simply a bad learned behavior often caused by boredom or any number of other factors. Lack of protein is often blamed for feather eating too despite having only 2% digestible protein. That soft egg was easy to grab and the excitement ensued.

Since she wasn't actively trying to hide a nest.. I would make sure the lay boxes are open and include a fake egg in each to show them that's where others deem a safe place to lay, if you haven't already.

When you start seeing soft eggs.. hard ones will follow shortly. But there can be HUGE discrepancy in lay onset even with gals of the same breed, from the same hatch, on the same feed, etc.. can be 4+ weeks apart.

If you start suspecting a hidden nest.. I go on "lock up" for about a week while the ladies train where to lay. After that they usually comply. I sometimes need to do this each year after weather turns nice.

Yes, marking fake eggs is recommended.. I have accidentally collected the fake and left the real. My pole barn has dealt with rats, and they try to steal or eat the eggs at times. Some of the wooden eggs in my lay boxes have gnaw marks all the way around like a half eaten corn on the cob. Feral barn cat keeps the place clear now.

 

[BrittanyL15]

Thank you both for your responses! New chicken keeping is stressful . I love them so much I just want them to be happy and healthy! I do have wooden eggs in their nesting boxes so at least I'm prepared that way!

 

[BrittanyL15]

She is now staying away from the other 2 and sleeping in a nest box. I've ever seen any of them do this. Should I pull her out of there or leave her be?

 

[BrittanyL15]

She is now staying away from the other 2 and sleeping in a nest box. I've ever seen any of them do this. Should I pull her out of there or leave her be?

Nevermind, I removed her. She is broody. She is laying on the wood eggs in the boxes. I watched her pull one from the corner of the box to under her breast. I locked the coop so she couldn't get in. She is NOT happy.

 

[NuggetTheChicken]

Nevermind, I removed her. She is broody. She is laying on the wood eggs in the boxes. I watched her pull one from the corner of the box to under her breast. I locked the coop so she couldn't get in. She is NOT happy.

Whoa! Broody already!