Some of our hens have decided they would like to break most of the eggs in the nest boxes before I can get home to take them out. They break their own as well as others. I've started adding oyster shell in an effort to make them harder but does anyone have any other ideas? Are they missing something from their diet? Often times, I think they are better fed than I am.
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Well, a bit of an update. Heard the cluck-cluck telling me one of the hens laid an egg. I rushed out there and all four were in the coop pecking away at the egg. It had broken open and they were all enjoying a fresh egg. Time for new hens. I'll offer these up for table fare if someone wants to have them. They have been well fed all of their lives.
When mine lay thin shelled eggs, I find them broken in the nest. I added oyster shell, but didn't see improvement until I started sprinkling a little azomite on their treat daily. I had read somewhere that the balance of minerals is important. The good feed crumble just wasn't doing it. Only 2 birds were doing this. The others lay rock hard shells.
Are the eggs opened and eaten or just cracked? Chrystine is right on, but if you have egg pokers or egg crackers, there may be hope. Separation is the first step.