Reasons for egg eating:
1. Lack of water - This is the primary reason for egg eating. Laying hens consume great amounts of water and if there is lack of water, they will consume their eggs for the liquid content.
2. Lack of food - They may also consume their eggs due to hunger.
3. Eggs breaking - If an egg breaks, they might try to eat the contents of the broken egg which starts the egg eating behavior.
4. Hen stress - stressed hens are more likely to consume their eggs.
Egg eating is a behavior that is almost impossible to remove once a hen has started to consume eggs. Some hens even go to other nests just to consume eggs. Most breeders I know cull the hens that are observed to eat their eggs as other hens may also acquire this habit if they see other hens doing it.
Prevention:
1. Feed the hens well and give calcium supplements to ensure that the egg's shells would be strong.
2. Drinking water must be very accessible.
3. Remove any broken eggs right away.
4. Keep plenty of soft nesting material so eggs will have a cushion on which to lay.
5. Make sure that the hens have plenty of room.
6. Do not use bright lights near the nesting area, bright lights increase stress and pecking habits.
7. Do not stress or scare the hens out of the nests, this will lead to broken eggs.
How to identify the egg eater:
1. Observe the nesting areas as egg eaters can be seen loitering around other nests looking for their next snack.
2. Check the nests frequently, check if there are broken eggs.
3. Inspect the hens, egg eating is messy business so dried up remnants can be seen on the side of the beak, face and feathers.
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