why are my friends chickens eating their own eggs?

Answer 1

http://msucares.com/poultry/management/poultry_eat_eggs.html

The causes that incite hens to eat their eggs usually result because of poor husbandry or management practices. Chickens do not naturally eat their eggs. Once the management of the flock is restored to an acceptable state, the egg eating will stop. The list of major causes and corrections are listed below. A factsheet entitled Prevention of Egg Eating discusses the subject in more detail.

* If shells of the eggs are thin and weak, provide proper diets as discussed in the nutrition section to correct the problem.
* Not enough nest space is provided. Provide at least one standard nest for each four hens.
* Keep plenty of soft nesting material in the nest so eggs will have a cushion on which to lay.
* Collect the eggs more regularly, at least 2 or 3 times daily. The longer the eggs remain in the nest, the greater chance of breakage and consumption.
* Provide plenty of clean, fresh drinking water. Hens need greater amounts of water than other birds and may consume their eggs for the liquid content.
* Cull non-laying hens from the flock. Refer to Culling Hens for assistance with this process.
* Maintain a disease-free flock that is treated regularly for internal and external parasites.

Here is a good suggestion> http://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Chickens-from-Eating-Their-Own-Eggs

Answer 2

When chickens eat their own eggs it normally is the result of only one thing, and improper/unbalanced diet.

Normally that diet will be lacking one of two things:

Protein or Calcium or Both

If the eggshells are thinner than normal, a lack of calcium is definitely evident. A lack of calcium can be treated by adding ground up sea shells to the feed. Look on the feed bag for the percentage of protein. You want to look at the percentage of regular protein. Crude protein means there is protein there but it can't be utilized to aid in nutrition. I'd recommend looking for a good layer chicken mash formulated for chickens laying eggs.

If you are feeding just cracked corn, it will not have all of the nutrients the chickens need and that could be the problem.

Answer 3

It's very normal for chickens to eat 'the less desirable' eggs for nutrition ! it's a good thing,they clean up they yucky mess. In the winter when they are not laying eggs/or as many adding crushed shell also gives them calcium which is very improtant to egg production and quality !

Make sure your friend is collecting the eggs a couple times a day.

Answer 4

So that the chickens wanted to prove that chickens actually came first before eggs.

Answer 5

May be that just want to see what they taste like and to see why you eat the chickens eggs lol

Answer 6

Cannibal chickens? whats the world coming too?usually when an animal eats its own offspring,its due to embarrassment.In this case the chicken thinks it will hatch into a chick.You should tell your friend to take the TV out of the hen house so they can't watch SOUTH PARK!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

Can happen, its a habit they do not break by themselves so you need to change thier habits.

Collect eggs ASAP, split the Eaters away from the rest.

It might have been triggered by winter moulting, vermin distirbing thier sleep, not enough food or general stress. Change bedding regularly and ensure they have ad-lib food and fresh water every day.

Answer 8

I've heard that this is quite normal as they need the calcium in shell as part of their diet. Try crushing some and mixing it in their feed and also take the eggs aways as soon as they've laid.

Answer 9

YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO EVERY NOW AND AGAIN CRUSH THE SHELLS AND IT GIVES THE CHICKENS CALCIUM WHICH THEY NEED FOR EGG LAYING .
THEY MAY BE TRYING TO GET THEIR OWN SOURCE OF CALCIUM HENCE EATING THEIR OWN EGGS.

Answer 10

cos they like shell in there diet you will need to smash up some egg shells and put them in their corn feed also plenty of water. p.s try to take the eggs aways as soon as they lay them