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Egg eating chicken....

post #1 of 9
3/18/12 at 12:47pm
Thread Starter 

So I have this very large cochin hen that lays under the nest boxes on the ground and she has started eating her own egg every time she lays...I have caught her in the act twice so I know it's her.

 

Since she doesn't lay in the nest boxes she is not eating other eggs BUT I am worried that it is teaching the other chickens to eat eggs as they all rush in to try and get some egg....and it is every time she lays so the other chcikens are starting to expect it.

 

what do I do?

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post #2 of 9
3/18/12 at 3:37pm
That's a toughie hmm.png I think, if she were mine, I would separate her from the rest of the flock. I've never had an egg eating problem, so I don't have alot of advice to give. Could you put a ceramic egg in her nest? Maybe a few good pecks on that would teach them all a lesson and give you enough time to snatch the egg. Perhaps she's eating the eggs because she's lacking something nutritionally. Do her feathers look to be in good condition? Good luck, hopefully someone with more experience will chime in soon.
Nikki
*C'mon, get flappy!*
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Nikki
*C'mon, get flappy!*
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post #3 of 9
3/18/12 at 5:23pm
Thread Starter 

yes thanks for that...I thought about getting a hard fake egg....I might try that...

 

my girls get Countryside organic feed, grain bread and fresh collards every day so I hope she is getting everything she needs....

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Member of the American Silkie Bantam Club

Member of Cochins International

 

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post #4 of 9
3/18/12 at 6:19pm

You either need to remove her from the flock at once (the behaviour is very catchy) or use roll-nests so the eggs roll to safety under a ledge.

 

Mustard and chilli in eggs is often recommended as a cure, but to be honest I've never found it to work longer than a couple days.

 

If it was just one hen I'd remove her.

 

I've got a post up on my blog about how to retrain hens that have become egg eaters, but it's easier just to start again unless the birds are very special.

 

good luck,

Erica

http://www.permachicken.com Permaculture chicken blog: raising chickens with fewer industrial inputs.

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http://www.permachicken.com Permaculture chicken blog: raising chickens with fewer industrial inputs.

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post #5 of 9
3/18/12 at 7:56pm

Cull her first before she really has the others trained.  Then try to retrain her.  If she can't be trained then a more permanent separation.  

I don't get better with age, only more confused(ing).

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I don't get better with age, only more confused(ing).

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post #6 of 9
3/18/12 at 9:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erica View Post

You either need to remove her from the flock at once (the behaviour is very catchy) or use roll-nests so the eggs roll to safety under a ledge.

 

 

Erica


She is not laying in the nest so a roll-out nest is not the answer.

 

 

If a man speaks in the forest and there is no woman there to hear him,....Is he still wrong??
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If a man speaks in the forest and there is no woman there to hear him,....Is he still wrong??
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post #7 of 9
3/20/12 at 8:03am
Thread Starter 

oh no! So it can catch on...? I don't want that...i am so mad at her...why do they do this? I might have to put her in jail...but she will just eat her egg in there...

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post #8 of 9
3/20/12 at 8:37am

Here's an article I wrote about it: I hope it helps!

 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/six-tips-on-breaking-your-egg-eater

I have five hens and two pullets- one seven year old red star, Luna, one white leghorn, Sage, one SLW, Pepper, one adorable fluffy EE, Bedazzle, and one black star, Buckbeak. My two pullets are Nutella, my wheaten marans, thirty five weeks, (who is yet to lay an egg!), and her best friend, Sammy, seventeen weeks.

 

 

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I have five hens and two pullets- one seven year old red star, Luna, one white leghorn, Sage, one SLW, Pepper, one adorable fluffy EE, Bedazzle, and one black star, Buckbeak. My two pullets are Nutella, my wheaten marans, thirty five weeks, (who is yet to lay an egg!), and her best friend, Sammy, seventeen weeks.

 

 

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post #9 of 9
3/20/12 at 3:44pm
Thread Starter 
Great thanks for that...I will try it. It is hard to get the eggs before she eats them as I work and she seems to eat it as soon as she lays it.mmustard eggs are coming....watch out Sydney!

Member of the American Silkie Bantam Club

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Member of the American Silkie Bantam Club

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