Breaking Eggs Again, New Evidence

[Dawnclucks22]

So today some of my eggs were found on the coop floor, and my hens were squabbling and pecking. How can I stop my hens pecking the eggs?? I've been losing a lot of eggs lately and I'm not sure if the whole filling-the-eggs-with-a-less-desirable-substance method will work as I've used this in the past. Thank you in advance.

 

[The Angry Hen]

Hello There,

Many poultry keepers have had this same, sad issue.
I used to have it all the time! Then I tried this:

I would suggest the "fake eggs" golf balls, wooden eggs, etc. Just about anything!

See how it works!

~The Angry Hen

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Roll out next box

Gary

 

[firestomp]

View attachment 1091259 So today some of my eggs were found on the coop floor, and my hens were squabbling and pecking. How can I stop my hens pecking the eggs?? I've been losing a lot of eggs lately and I'm not sure if the whole filling-the-eggs-with-a-less-desirable-substance method will work as I've used this in the past. Thank you in advance.

the shells don't look very thick, I am guessing you feed oyster shell? Food grade diatomaceous earth is a great source of calcium, just mix in with feed. There was an analysis on here several weeks ago that gave the entire breakdown of food grade Dio.
How many boxes are you offering them to lay in? I have hens laying them in my rabbit boxes that i have hay in, the 2 nest boxes in the hen house, and in a large downed owl house that the squirrels lived in. I free range and it is simple enough to check all possible areas.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

the shells don't look very thick, I am guessing you feed oyster shell? Food grade diatomaceous earth is a great source of calcium, just mix in with feed. There was an analysis on here several weeks ago that gave the entire breakdown of food grade Dio.
How many boxes are you offering them to lay in? I have hens laying them in my rabbit boxes that i have hay in, the 2 nest boxes in the hen house, and in a large downed owl house that the squirrels lived in. I free range and it is simple enough to check all possible areas.

The oyster shells are mixed in with their feed. I will start adding DE to their feed as we have some. We have 5 hens and they have 2 boxes.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Maybe they are breaking the eggs by jumping down into the vertical boxes. Try putting more straw/hay in vertical boxes, within an inch or two of the top, so they don't have to jump down into box.
If that doesn't work. Maybe try walk in boxes. GC