[Jim in NC]

My brother has a few chickies that supply his family with eggs. Recently, he has been finding most of the eggs cracked and broken. What could be causing this? I have gone to get snakes out of his hen house, but they eat the eggs whole. I have never had chickens of my own so I cannot help. Most every farmer I knew in my youth had 'em, but about all I did was gather eggs, feed them, and enjoy them and their eggs at mealtime.

 

[4imnotright]

Jim
Does he give the chickens crack oyster shells? They maybe needing calcium

 

[Jim in NC]

I'll pass it along Steve. Thanks :!:

 

[caseman]

Steve you are proably right. they like something in their diet.

 

[BigDaveinKY]

If they are cracked, or broken and uneaten, then I agree with Steve and Jr. Some crushed oyster shell
scattered about the ground for them to pick at will give more calcium in their diet and strengthen the shells.
If they are being cracked open and eaten, then lots of varmints or domestic critters will eat eggs.
He best sit with a shotgun one night, in the hen house, and see what it is.

 

[bettyp]

If they are open range chickens ,theyusually get what they need but if keep up surely is liking something in their diet.

 

[Jim in NC]

If they are open range chickens ,theyusually get what they need but if keep up surely is liking something in their diet.

They go out of their lot on some days, but are also kept in. They are kept in at night. Too many other critters are in this area that like chicken especially at night.

 

[missouri massey man]

Ever now and then we'd get a hen that would peck the shells for whatever reason and Dad could always tell which one. That one
would make Sunday dinner. He'd grab their heads one at a time and look 'em over until he found the culprit. Most likely from lack
of calcium like said above, but I didn't know or think about it back then. Sometimes he'd snip a bit off their top bill with scissors.