[sam]

Hi
I had five rescue hens, Lowman browns I think,  and have had no problems until a few weks ago when they started bullying one particular hen.  She seemed in good health and  I have fostered her out with a freind who tells me she is fine but stillsleeps on her own.  There has been a lack of eggs which I put down to resting and the warm weather. However today I notice that the one one egg laid had been pecked and badly damaged.  Does anybody have any idea why.  No changes to diet or routine.

Many thanks

Sam

[Aunt Sally]

Welcome Sam  

Was the shell nice and strong  :?:

[GrannieAnnie]

And how long have you had the rescued hens?  Are they ex batts?  We've had our rescued ones for a year, and 6 months and at the moment are only get 3-4 decent eggs a day and 2 or 3 very thin shelled ones which are usually crushed before I can get to them.  This is out of 50 hens!

[sam]

Hi
Thanks for your interest.

I've had the hens for around 15 months, I think!  All from each free range units.  I've seen the units which are made up of two big sheds, holding 3000 birds each with access to pasture.  From wha t I could see the birds spent most of their time in doors.  The  shell of the damage egg appeared  normal.

Thanks

Sam

[GrannieAnnie]

Your chooks are getting old as hybrids go Sam, so you will probably never get as many eggs as you did.  That's why they get rid when they are 72 weeks old.

You're lucky that your girls are ex free range, as the ones we had when we lived in Essex, were quite healthy, and laid well for over a year, up to 2 years after we got them, but our old ex batts are k*******d poor dears.

I'm a bit puzzled about the egg if it had a good shell.  There are not many deliberate egg eating chickens.  Usually its because an egg is damaged, and then it becomes free food to them, or perhaps a normal egg has a bit of yolk from a damaged egg on it and the chooks pick at it therefore breaking the shell of the good one to eat all that goodness.  Strange!!!!

[sam]

Thanks for your comments.  What you suggest makes sense.  The birds cleaned up a damaged egg.  I will keep an eye on the situation .

[muntjac]

eggs usually get broken when 2 hensd try to squash in the box ,a toe goes through the shell n its eaten then ,if it persists  put a hole in both ends of a whole egg with a nail n stick the nail into break the yolk n blow it .now fill it full of chilli or pepper  use a straw