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Hens destroying eggs

Forum: Egg Destroying by hens

Published: June 2, 2011
By: Busumane Zambe

My hens lay eggs and then eat them. What could be the cause of this behaviour?

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Busumane Zambe
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Neethiraja
Suguna Group
Suguna Group
9 de junio de 2011

Sir,
The reasons could be:

Poor/Late egg quality collection
Damaged/cracked eggs may be left in the Nest

These two reasons will encourage hens to eat eggs. If you have any other idea please share it.

Regards,
Neethiraja A

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Dr Jaydip Mulik
10 de junio de 2011
Dear Busumane Zambe , If your chickens are eating their own eggs, you'll need to break this habit immediately. The longer they do it, the harder it becomes to fix. But don't worry - with a few tweaks to your hens' nest boxes and living situation, you can nip egg eating in the bud. Reduce Egg Breakage Egg breakage is one of the major reasons why hens begin eating eggs. A few quick tips can reduce or eliminate egg breakage and thus the chances for your hens to get the taste of raw egg. Strong eggshells. Keep eggshells strong by feeding a calcium supplement in a free choice feeder (usually sold as oyster shells). Make sure to use a complete feed specifically designed for laying hens. If you feed hens eggshell for calcium, smash them to a powder so they don't associate them with the egg itself. Collect eggs early. Collecting eggs early in the day is always good practice. This leaves less time for breakage and egg eating. Most hens are done laying by 10 am. Lower Stress Avoid bright lighting near the nesting boxes, and don't disturb hens in the nests. Make sure you have enough space for each hen in the coop, fresh feed and water are available at all times, and if possible, hens have free space outdoors to roam (or at least a run with fresh grass and bugs). Cull Relentless Egg Eaters If you have one hen who's determined to eat eggs despite all these tips, consider culling her from the flock. She'll just pass on the bad behavior to the other hens and then you'll have a real problem on your hands. Regards, Dr Jaydip
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Kannan Velasamy
10 de junio de 2011
Are the birds reared in backyard or deep litter or caged ? Nature of feed? Availability of calcium / Phosphorus ratio? Is it getting sufficient protein level? Have you beak trim your bird/s? Could you please share the above information for getting a reliable reason?
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Jahan Zeb Ansari
10 de junio de 2011

Dear sir,
You should collect eggs 4 times a day
Make the nest in slope shaped so that egg should be slipped down and can not be seen by hens.
Put "tennis balls" in nests. It will decrease their habit of breaking eggs.
Also use/hang green fodder in shed.

Dr.Jahan Zeb Ansari

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Ganesh Kumar Dahal
Guybro Chemical
11 de junio de 2011

It is much easier to prevent egg eating than to cure the habit once it has developed. It is usually initiated by accidental egg breakage, but birds will then learn to break eggs themselves.

Egg eating occurs primarily in flocks that are raised in deep litter (i.e., not in cages).

Egg eating problem can result when

• The hens are overcrowded,
• When light intensity is too bright,
• When there are inadequate nests,
• When the nests are not constructed properly.

The tendency to eat eggs could be aggravated by either a deficiency of calcium : phosphorus or vitamin D in the ration.

Such deficiencies also contribute indirectly to egg eating by causing poor shell quality and broken eggs.

If the flock is receiving a commercial layer ration, such deficiencies are rare.

Following Control Measures could help:

1. Gather eggs more frequently. Once a day is not enough -- three times or more is better.

2. Be sure plenty of nests are provided. Allow one regular type nest for each four layers.

3. Darken nests - Dark nests reduce egg breakage and egg eating as well as the numbers of dirty eggs produced.

4. Feeding of liquid milk for a few days often reduces egg eating.

5. Replace eggs with artificial wooden or plastic eggs (Ping-Pong ball), a few unsuccessful pecks at them and they will often times lose interest.

6. Hang heavy material in the nest fronts, leaving only 2-3" of space underneath, the hens will crawl under to lay but usually they don't crawl under to eat.

7. Often it is only a few hens, which are doing most of the egg eating. However, it is difficult to break birds of the habit and it is best to cull those that begin eating eggs

How to find the culprit?

Observe your hens and try to identify such hens.
The presence of egg yolk on the beak often helps in identifying them.

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Tarusenga Munyanyi
15 de noviembre de 2011

avoid floor egg by providing adquate nest boxes in the fowl runs. make sure the feed has enough calcium and phosphorus balance. Stressing factors like overcrowding should be avoided.

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Joseph Akayi Nammonywa
15 de noviembre de 2011
Have to beak trim,check on calcium and phospherus levels,check on proteins and feed on layers feeds only.Also egg eating can be caused by vitamin D3 DEFICIENCY in feed ration.
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Ram Prasad Poudyal
15 de noviembre de 2011
+ Dear sir There are some suggestion regarding egg eater 1. Deficient of Methyl donor 2. Irritation of ammonia 3 Deficient of Ca+ In diet 4. Calculate steric acids in diets 5. Maintain Light intensity Suggestion Please recalculate feed Give additional stone grits MAintain light in 15 lux units inside the shed PoudyalDr. RAm Prasad
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Maqsood Jaffery
16 de noviembre de 2011

A lot has been written. I will add up one important factor that if litter is not managed properly, there is build up of toe ball on birds nails. If not removed toe balls continue to grow in size & hardens by the passage of time. When the hen with toe balls enters the nest, where there are already egg, toe ball will act as hammer on Egg & will break the egg, to which it is striking. In addition to valuable tips given already, please keep check for toe balls when layer is kept on floor.
Layer birds have different calcium, Phosphorus requirements at different ages. Usually at the start of lay bit higher phosphorus is required in comparison to old age. It is otherwise with Calcium. Calcium requirement increases by the advancement of age. Vit D3 plays very important role in absorption from gut & metabolism of Calcium & Phosphorus in bones & Egg shell buid up. Feed should be formulated for requirement of Calcium & Phosphorus as per layer guide of every breed to keep the egg shell strong.
Dr. Maqsood Jaffery

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Dr Jaydip Mulik
29 de noviembre de 2011
Dear Mr. Ganesh and Mr. Maqsood, Thanks for updates... Regards, Dr. Jaydip
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Ganesh Kumar Dahal
Guybro Chemical
29 de noviembre de 2011
Dear Dr.Jaydip, Thanks a lot ! Regards, G.K.Dahal
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