They ate an egg....

[pandasyard]

Our 3 hens ate an egg today We are unsure which one as all 3 were at it in the end.

What is weird is that the egg was in a different place to every other one we have had. They started laying last Sunday and all have been in the nest boxes but this one was outside in the run. Could they have carried it out or was it laid there?

Also what are our chances of it stopping as we have heard once they pop they cant stop.

Thanks

[SusieG]

Hi Pandasyard- just tried to reply to your thread and copied it all out again .... Anyway.
My girls have laid once or twice in the run when when there's been no room to get all five of 'em in the nest box!!
Try putting an egg sized stone into the nesting box, should stop 'em eating eggs once they've tried to munch on that!!!

[fishpond]

Sounds like one of your Cluckies was caught short, it happens
You need to look at the shell and determine if it was a normal shell or fragile/softy and did it break on impact with the ground--if it did break, they will eat it. If this is the case then providing the cluckie doesn't keep laying softies, it is not a problem.
On the other hand, if the egg shell was normal and it didn't break on impact, you may have a problem.
Personally, I would not be too concerned and would keep an eye to see if it happens again.

[Scarlet]

Its early laying days yet and they're very young so I wouldn't worry just yet either. It's not a habit, they've just done it the once and it may well have been a very softshell as Fishponds has said. I would check often for eggs so that they are removed promptly from the floor or nest boxes. Rubber or China eggs in the nest boxes are a good idea to get them used to where they are to lay.