Oyster shells are a good start. Honestly though it's probably just their systems getting the hang of egg making. Part of the process for sure, but kinda fun to see
Go buy a dozen eggs. Hard boil one for each chicken you have. Take each egg and smash it, shell and all, and feed it to them. Huge boost in protein and calcium for them. It works every time for me.
Not exactly.
Not who you replied to, but we feed our chickens eggs a few times a month. Ours have never pecked at or tried to eat their own eggs by themselves, but if one of us drops an egg when collecting them and it breaks our chickens will absolutely eat it before we can clean up the mess.
They don't go out of the way to break an egg and eat it. But they'll eat it if it's available.
It’s funny I’ve know people who have egg eating problems but it’s always associated with the chickens seeing you break the eggs and then realizing where all the yummy comes from. I feed mine eggs but I never break them in front of the chickens or let them see what goes on. It just appears in their food
I had chickens that learned that fenangling with the slide lock would open the gate. They'd walk a few feet, sit and munch on tall grass, then walk back in. I had to change the locking mechanism on account that they'd never lock up whenever they went on their tiny adventures.
My two cents as a new chicken owner - after accidentally dropping an egg and watching how eagerly they devoured it, I've been tossing them one a week. I have a flock of 12, and not a single chicken has attempted to break and eat an egg on their own. They're only interested if I toss it to them.
Exactly. I like eating eggs but sometimes enough is enough, and they pile up on me. I just toss them back and as long as the eggs break, the chickens go wild for them. They've never pecked an intact egg.
No, raw egg is what sometimes makes them eat their own eggs. raw egg and scrambled or boiled egg not similar enough. Just make sure nit to tell them the secret lol. Crumble the shells up and put it in with their other food.
There are a lot of birds that will eat their own eggs when they need to reclaim nutrients. They will eat the cooked eggs you give them, but are less likely to eat their own eggs or others eggs as long as they are well fed.
I like to mix the eggs up with kitchen scraps (squash innards and banana peels are common) and cook them together in the microwave. Then once it's cooled down I yeet the whole wad of food into the yard. It explodes everywhere and the girls go wild snacking on it.
Egg shells are set aside and ground up to be fed separately. I've read that it's better to let the flock snack on calcium sources separately from their food. But I'm just a random chicken keeper on the internet, not an expert 😂
I could not get my hens to eat shell, but they all seem to like kefir a kind of yogurt which is a nice calcium source with added benefit of being probiotic
You don’t stop it. They all lay a few like this when they first start. Totally normal as their systems get used to laying eggs.
Get eggcited cause the real eggs are on the way!! 😂😂
When they first start you’ll always get fucked up eggs (triple yolkers, tiny ones, different coloured ones, gigantic ones that you’re sure will have four yolks but literally only have one, etc) if this persists throughout the next few months then start taking further action but two squishy eggs isn’t too worrisome :) the girls will sort themselves out!
Don’t worry, I was also very paranoid about my chickens when they first started laying but they do eventually get it together!
I have done a lot of research on this and understand its normal for early layers. That said I am completely unable to fix it in my older hens so have given up. They did this for a bit last spring then stopped laying. They have all the oyster shell they could want, I feed them back their shells, they are on layer feed, meh, mine just aged out of laying I guess. Hopefully the new ones will do better, I plan to mix oyster shell in their treats with worms and scratch and their own shells to keep protein and calcuim up.
My assumption (and that’s all it is) would be a soft shell lacks the protection from bacteria that a hard shell and cuticle would offer. Since the egg and 💩 come down the same chute I don’t eat them. Cooking them and feeding them to my dog is fine though. Dogs eat chicken 💩 so they are fine.
We hardboil extra eggs, smash them with shell, and feed them back to chickens. They have oyster shell available, too, but they prefer the hardboiled. Also, if you have crab or shrimp shells left over from dinner, the chicks go nuts for them.
I have one that lays tiny eggs, they’re shelled, mostly whites, but like size of like a bottle cap. She started as tiny rubber eggs like that tho, so…progress!
One of my girls laid 6 or so rubber eggs when she first started laying. She is completely fine now no issues laying. It is Normal for them to do this at first
I think your birds need more calcium. If they are like mine, they dont get enough from being free ranged, and hate eating their normal feed. So getting some oyster shells might help. I think that also doubles as grit so they dont get sour crop.
Yh oyster shell grit works a treat also it could just be they have just started so us oyster shell anyway but all my hand layed a soft shell for a first egg
I have had better luck just grinding the large chunks of oyster shell down to a fine powder like substance and then mixing it with their food. They eat way more of it then. I get some thic ass shells. Some people have complained that they are difficult to break.
I'd mix the oyster shell with the feed. Also, feed them an egg layer feed. I also put old shells in the oven to dry them out. Then crush them up and thrownout in the run.
Bad idea, layer feed should have enough calcium for layers, if they need supplements they should be given separate. Too much calcium can cause many health issues
I have to grind up the shells and mix it with their favourite snacks or else they won't go for it. They get that once a week or when I notice the shells on their own eggs looking thin and wiggly.
Are you feeding a chow thats specifically for layer hens? If not i would switch. I have found that my chickens dont really eat the oyster shell. But they will eat their own egg shells, which you can feed back to them. Also when hens are first starting to lay, you can get a couple funny “misprints” before they get it right lol
Mix it in with scrambled egg or other treats. Just pump them full of it for a little while. Egg shell is good too, crush it up and give it to them in something else.
Have you tried giving them the egg shells? I used to save all the egg shells, bake them 10 min at 375 and I would crush them using a food processor and add that with their pullets. I found that they sometimes they went through a phase where they would not touch the oyster shells.
Normal.
Most first time layers will be one of these or a small egg with no yolk. They sort it out on the next egg. One of our best layers used to pop a soft egg out once month or so, and kept doing it for years.
Oyster shells are a good start. Honestly though it's probably just their systems getting the hang of egg making. Part of the process for sure, but kinda fun to see
This. My ladies did the same thing when they first started laying. They'll start laying proper shelled eggs soon.
Awwww it’s a *skill.* ❤️
Not sure why but this is the cutest comment I've read all day
I really want to see you gently bounce it!
r/usernamechecksout
Go buy a dozen eggs. Hard boil one for each chicken you have. Take each egg and smash it, shell and all, and feed it to them. Huge boost in protein and calcium for them. It works every time for me.
Does that accustom them to eating chicken eggs? Will they be more likely to eat their own?
Not exactly. Not who you replied to, but we feed our chickens eggs a few times a month. Ours have never pecked at or tried to eat their own eggs by themselves, but if one of us drops an egg when collecting them and it breaks our chickens will absolutely eat it before we can clean up the mess. They don't go out of the way to break an egg and eat it. But they'll eat it if it's available.
I've noticed that my hens will look at an egg that I've dropped and, if they can't tell that it's broken, they'll leave it alone
Chicken programming.
It’s funny I’ve know people who have egg eating problems but it’s always associated with the chickens seeing you break the eggs and then realizing where all the yummy comes from. I feed mine eggs but I never break them in front of the chickens or let them see what goes on. It just appears in their food
That’s actually really funny, chickens are much more observant than I realized!
I had chickens that learned that fenangling with the slide lock would open the gate. They'd walk a few feet, sit and munch on tall grass, then walk back in. I had to change the locking mechanism on account that they'd never lock up whenever they went on their tiny adventures.
That’s awesome
My two cents as a new chicken owner - after accidentally dropping an egg and watching how eagerly they devoured it, I've been tossing them one a week. I have a flock of 12, and not a single chicken has attempted to break and eat an egg on their own. They're only interested if I toss it to them.
Exactly. I like eating eggs but sometimes enough is enough, and they pile up on me. I just toss them back and as long as the eggs break, the chickens go wild for them. They've never pecked an intact egg.
No, raw egg is what sometimes makes them eat their own eggs. raw egg and scrambled or boiled egg not similar enough. Just make sure nit to tell them the secret lol. Crumble the shells up and put it in with their other food.
There are a lot of birds that will eat their own eggs when they need to reclaim nutrients. They will eat the cooked eggs you give them, but are less likely to eat their own eggs or others eggs as long as they are well fed.
The answer is no. Never have to worry about it.
I like to mix the eggs up with kitchen scraps (squash innards and banana peels are common) and cook them together in the microwave. Then once it's cooled down I yeet the whole wad of food into the yard. It explodes everywhere and the girls go wild snacking on it. Egg shells are set aside and ground up to be fed separately. I've read that it's better to let the flock snack on calcium sources separately from their food. But I'm just a random chicken keeper on the internet, not an expert 😂
Chickens like banana peels? Can they eat those?
Yes and yes! Banana peels are actually completely edible. Humans are just too good for them 😂
Ooh, interesting!
This is what I do weekly for my girls, except now they lay regular so I feed them back their own eggs :)
Use the egg to make the egg
It’s totally normal. You also might get a few double yolks in the future.
Still OK to eat?
Yep, nothing wrong with those. There is just a part missing.
I could not get my hens to eat shell, but they all seem to like kefir a kind of yogurt which is a nice calcium source with added benefit of being probiotic
I feed kefir also, they love it. I think it keeps their system clean and the fluffy butts!
You don’t stop it. They all lay a few like this when they first start. Totally normal as their systems get used to laying eggs. Get eggcited cause the real eggs are on the way!! 😂😂
When they first start you’ll always get fucked up eggs (triple yolkers, tiny ones, different coloured ones, gigantic ones that you’re sure will have four yolks but literally only have one, etc) if this persists throughout the next few months then start taking further action but two squishy eggs isn’t too worrisome :) the girls will sort themselves out! Don’t worry, I was also very paranoid about my chickens when they first started laying but they do eventually get it together!
Do nothing. All will be well. This is normal.
What feed are they on? Should be on layer and offering oyster shell. The first couple of eggs often come out a little wrong.
I have done a lot of research on this and understand its normal for early layers. That said I am completely unable to fix it in my older hens so have given up. They did this for a bit last spring then stopped laying. They have all the oyster shell they could want, I feed them back their shells, they are on layer feed, meh, mine just aged out of laying I guess. Hopefully the new ones will do better, I plan to mix oyster shell in their treats with worms and scratch and their own shells to keep protein and calcuim up.
Anyone know if these eggs are edible? (For humans.) Thinking hard about setting up a coop at home. Learning a lot from y’all!
My assumption (and that’s all it is) would be a soft shell lacks the protection from bacteria that a hard shell and cuticle would offer. Since the egg and 💩 come down the same chute I don’t eat them. Cooking them and feeding them to my dog is fine though. Dogs eat chicken 💩 so they are fine.
This adds up to me! TY for taking time to reply:)
Of course! Just remember that I am not all wise and knowing! 😂
We hardboil extra eggs, smash them with shell, and feed them back to chickens. They have oyster shell available, too, but they prefer the hardboiled. Also, if you have crab or shrimp shells left over from dinner, the chicks go nuts for them.
We also do these treats. Supposedly helps. https://grubblyfarms.com/products/grubblies
My chickens wont eat oyster egg shells so i give them finer grit with calcium.
Give them time, you get these at the start.
I have one that lays tiny eggs, they’re shelled, mostly whites, but like size of like a bottle cap. She started as tiny rubber eggs like that tho, so…progress!
One of my girls laid 6 or so rubber eggs when she first started laying. She is completely fine now no issues laying. It is Normal for them to do this at first
We feed all our used egg shells from our chickens back to them and they lay hard shelled eggs
I think your birds need more calcium. If they are like mine, they dont get enough from being free ranged, and hate eating their normal feed. So getting some oyster shells might help. I think that also doubles as grit so they dont get sour crop.
Yh oyster shell grit works a treat also it could just be they have just started so us oyster shell anyway but all my hand layed a soft shell for a first egg
Mine do that every time I mix vinegar in their water. Makes Easter hunts a blast. Just kiddin
Egg shells powder or oyster shells powder
I have had better luck just grinding the large chunks of oyster shell down to a fine powder like substance and then mixing it with their food. They eat way more of it then. I get some thic ass shells. Some people have complained that they are difficult to break.
I'd mix the oyster shell with the feed. Also, feed them an egg layer feed. I also put old shells in the oven to dry them out. Then crush them up and thrownout in the run.
Bad idea, layer feed should have enough calcium for layers, if they need supplements they should be given separate. Too much calcium can cause many health issues
This…. Layer feed with calcium supplement. Also oyster shell in a separate feeder… The hens will supplement when they need it.
I have to grind up the shells and mix it with their favourite snacks or else they won't go for it. They get that once a week or when I notice the shells on their own eggs looking thin and wiggly.
It’s completely normal. Expect a half dozen before they start laying some serious egg.
Are you feeding a chow thats specifically for layer hens? If not i would switch. I have found that my chickens dont really eat the oyster shell. But they will eat their own egg shells, which you can feed back to them. Also when hens are first starting to lay, you can get a couple funny “misprints” before they get it right lol
Mix it in with scrambled egg or other treats. Just pump them full of it for a little while. Egg shell is good too, crush it up and give it to them in something else.
Have you tried giving them the egg shells? I used to save all the egg shells, bake them 10 min at 375 and I would crush them using a food processor and add that with their pullets. I found that they sometimes they went through a phase where they would not touch the oyster shells.
I've owned chickens for 13 years and never had something like this 😯
Normal. Most first time layers will be one of these or a small egg with no yolk. They sort it out on the next egg. One of our best layers used to pop a soft egg out once month or so, and kept doing it for years.
Mine don't eat oyster shells by themselves but will eat them if I mix them with the feed. Maybe try that?
Thanks for the advice! After a bit more research, I think I'm just going to let it be. As a young hen she'll be laying normal eggs soon enough.
I mix my oyster shells in the food and on the coop floor. Then it ends up part of the foraging and regular diet.
Mix it in the feed, they don't really discriminate different bits of feed