Chicken eating it’s own eggs...

[kkcooper2013]

We’ve tried to feed them oyster shells but they’ll legit pick out the shells and only eat their food. At least one egg a day goes eaten... anyone else have this problem???

 

[Mtnboomer]

We’ve tried to feed them oyster shells but they’ll legit pick out the shells and only eat their food. At least one egg a day goes eaten... anyone else have this problem???

Have you fed them eggshells before? I had this problem 2 yrs ago. It was only one hen. It took some time and patience, but I finally watched her follow anither hen into the coop and wait while she layed. Then i caught her in the act of pecking and breaking open the egg.

They had free choice food (so not from hunger), free choice oyster shells (no calcium deficiency), and they free range all day so couldn't be from boredom.

The problem did not begin until soon after (about 10days-2wks) it was suggested to me to feed the birds their egg shells back to add calcium and save on oyster shells.

The behavior may be coincidental, a learned source for consuming calcium, or this particular bird just preferred the taste of egg shell to oyster.

Whatever it was, i stopped giving them egg shells, but the eggeating continued. I put her in "time out" for 2 wks, didn't work. Ultimately, I dispatched the naughty hen.
This has since eliminated the problem.

I would start with whatever you do for "chicken jail." Maybe you will have better luck and it won't come to butchering.

 

[Cazook]

fake/stone eggs or golf balls put in the nest box. they will peck them and not get the reward so it should discourage the behaviour.

i heard egg eating can sometimes be from not enough protein in the diet as well.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are the eggs eaten soft shelled, or are they pecking regular shelled eggs? If the latter, roll away nest boxes would be another thing to possibly try.

 

[aart]

We’ve tried to feed them oyster shells but they’ll legit pick out the shells and only eat their food. At least one egg a day goes eaten... anyone else have this problem???

Yes, I have had this problem, mostly with young newly laying pullets, due to soft shelled eggs easily broken(fair game for eating, IMO)

How and where are you finding the eaten egg, is there any shell left to examine?
What all and exactly how are you feeding?
How old are the birds?
How long have they been laying?
How many of them do you have???
How big is your coop and run, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help here.
Sorry for the interrogation all the questions,
but egg eating can have several causes,
can't find a solution unless we figure out cause of the problem.