Breaking dog from eating eggs

[featherfooted]

I've just found out one of the reasons my egg count has gone down is that my English setter is going in the coop and eating eggs. She doesn't hurt the hens, she just goes in the hen door and helps herself to the eggs. She has learned that a clacking hen means there is an egg in the nest. I've gotten on to her very time I caught her with an egg, but it hasn't done any good. Any ideas on how to break her of this habit. I don't want to keep the hens in their pen all the time, they like to be in the yard during the day, but I don't want to have to shut the gate when they are out either as they wouldn't be able to go in the coop to lay. I'm open to suggestions.

 

[arlee453]

Make a smaller coop door if possible - large enough for the hens, but too small for the dog?

Either that, or keep the dog separated where she can't go in there.

I can't think of anything else - unless you catch her in the act over and over again and correct her as the thought starts entering her head, it will be very hard to train her not to go after those eggs.

 

[opihiman911]

you colud try using the hot mustard/chili pepper egg trick. We have used the trick for egg eating chickens, it might work for egg eating dogs.
Another idea is what about using that dog-be-gone spray on the door? or maybe fill an egg or two full of that spray and let him eat it *nasty nasty nasty*. spray a couple eggs with that stuff, just make sure you mark the ones you spray/fill so YOU don't eat them? I have used that spray sucessfully to keep my dog from peeing on my vegi garden and roses, it really messes with their nose. Might be worth a try.


Here is an excerpt from a previous post several months ago I wrote about mustard eggs:

I have sucessfully used the both golf ball trick and blowing out the eggs and filling with hot mustard. You can also use those plastic easter eggs and just paint them brown or white.
While it is true that chickens can eat hot peppers and don't have any taste buds, I think what the deterent is when they get that "yellow yolk" in their nose and eyes and burns the *@#*&%@!!! out of them.

I had one hen that I tried everything, plastic eggs, golf balls, seperating her and giving extra goodies and protein, dark curtians, the whole nine yards, nothing worked and I was ready to send her to the pot. That is when an oldtimer told me about the hot mustard/habanero pepper in the blown out egg. Since I had nothing to lose I tried it. Slipped a pair of doctored up eggs in the nest at night time. In the morning I went and checked, she had broken open one egg and started eating it, she didn't touch the other egg. When I checked on her one eye was swollen shut and she had a runny nose and was sneezing. I kept this up for a week, she broke open one more "mustard" egg and that was the end of it. By the end of the week I was mixing good eggs with the mustard eggs and leaving them there for a day or two as extra temptation. After a week of intesive "therapy" she was returned to the flock and saved from the pot

 

[opihiman911]

here is a link to the spray I have used in my vegi and rose garden. I just sprayed it on the gate and around the enterance to my garden. For my roses I sprayed an index card and stuck them in spikes in the ground around the roses. Both my dogs want nothing to do with my garden now, they went and found a new spot for their bathroom.

http://www2.yardiac.com/long.asp?tgs=8298062:20513734&cart_id=5648012:338588392734&item_id=16050

Hope this helps.

Aloha,
Cory

 

[featherfooted]

I had thought of put something in an egg, but didn't know what to put. I'll try the hot mustard and see if it helps. I had wondered if putting ipecac in one would work. I don't want to hurt her just keep her from eating the eggs. I caught her with one today and told her to drop it which she did. I picked it up as it was uncracked and took in the house. To bad I can't teach her to gather the eggs and not eat them.

Georgia

 

[opihiman911]

I wouldn't use ipecac because while it will make them vomit, it won't be an immediate response. You want your dog to bite the egg and immediatly get a negative response.

I mixed up hot colemans dry mustard and used green habanero tobasco sauce to mix the mustard into liquid. I made it kinda thick liquid so it would stick onto their beak and face...in this case stick to her lips and nose.

Blow out the egg and use a syringe to fill the egg completely full, seal the holes with metled wax dripped on the holes. Place it in the empty nest box, when you hear a chicken making noise after laying an egg, sneak out and watch your dog. If you see her running out of the coop wiping its nose and heading for the water, you know you got her. Keep it up for the next couple days. Mark the doctored egg and leave it in there mixed with good eggs for a while till you are sure it has learned it lesson. If you start missing good eggs again, remove the good ones and leave only a doctored on along with the one that was just layed

Good luck

Aloha,
cory