The slightest risk of cracks in the eggshell or the egg content spilling will cause chickens to eat their eggs, regardless of the quantity of protein they are fed.
Eggs high-protein source. One egg has only 70 calories and 6 to 8 grams of protein. Eggs are incredibly nourishing and include a wealth of essential vitamins and minerals in addition to being a complete protein.
Why are my chickens destroying their eggs?
A good hen will sit on its egg after laying. Normally chickens destroying their eggs is very high in commercial egg production farms. If you see signs of your chickens destroying their eggs, it could be any of the under-listed factors.
1. Calcium deficient
Chickens suffering from calcium deficiency or getting little or no calcium supplements in their feed are likely to break and eat eggs in search of calcium. Feeding meat chickens on low calcium-supplemented feed is okay but not okay for egg-laying chickens since they are kept for a year or two.
2. Thin eggshell
Thin eggshells are caused by a calcium deficiency in chickens. Eggs with thin eggshells break when laid, and this makes it easy for the chickens to eat them.
3. Overcrowding
The most prevalent cause of hens eating eggs is an overcrowded coop. Too much stress in an overcrowded coop will cause hens to peck eggs laid and easily break those with thin eggshells and with cracks.
4. Not Enough Nesting Boxes
Having limited nesting boxes also contributes to chickens destroying their eggs. Limited space in nesting boxes can cause eggs to break when they hen lay more than they can take.
5. Hard floor surfaces
Exposing hard surfaces in the chicken coop create cracks or completely break the eggs when laid. This makes it easier for chickens to consume the egg content and sometimes they also eat the eggshells.
Read Also: How to check your chicken eggs for fertility
How to stop chickens from eating their eggs
Below are possible ways from experts how to stop chickens from eating their eggs.
1. Calcium-balanced diet
When formulating your chicken, make sure to include the right amount of calcium ingredients in the formulation. A laying hen over the age of 18 weeks needs 4-5g of calcium a day, but she also requires a sufficient amount of other nutrients to produce thick eggshells.
2. Debeaking
Beak conditioning is the process of partially removing a bird’s beak. It is most commonly done on layer hens. The beak is often permanently reduced, however sprouting is possible. Debeaking is very necessary to reduce the rate of breaking and eating eggs and cannibalism among chickens.
3. Spacious nesting boxes
Having enough nesting boxes in the coop can prevent eggs from destroying such that there will be enough space for the eggs. Hens can lay smoothly without breaking them.
4. Floor space requirement
You may also want to consider the floor space for a given number of chickens in order not to overstock the coop. Using the right floor space gives the chickens enough space to not feel stressed. Find here our free broiler floor space calculator and egg-laying birds floor space calculator.
5. Using bedding materials
The most popular bedding materials used in raising chickens include pines, wood shavings, and rice hulls. These materials can be used to cover the hard floor space to ensure eggs laid do not break for the chickens to eat them.
Conclusion
We hope this guide on “Why would chicken eat their eggs” was helpful. So, do not give the chickens the chance to destroy the eggs. Avoid overcrowding, use bedding materials, include calcium in their feed to make eggshells thick, debeak, and lastly provide enough nesting boxes.
Read Also: Help Your Chickens Lay More Eggs
Source:PoultryABC.com
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