chickens breakin and eatin eggs

[angief]

How do u stop chickens from breakin and eatin their eggs?...i have nestin boxes that allow the egg to roll away from the nest but they dont always and when im home i try to check the eggs frequently to avoid this but even this am i didnt make it out there quik enuf

 

[gamebirdsonly]

Once they start eating their eggs it's a hard habit to break. I usually just get rid of them or isolate them Sorry not best advice. Good luck.

 

[angief]

Ok...thx...ill c what advice others have too...not sure which one (or more) r doin it

 

[cavemanrich]

This egg cannibalism is a hard one to break. Hope not all your hens are up to it. Just. a question needed to ask. Do they get enough feed??? Another thing to consider is this... If the egg breaks on its own rolling out of the nest. THEN ITS FREE FOR ALL. Most chickens will start wolfing on broken eggs almost immediately. Last option is of course setting up for adoption , or freezer camp.
WISHING YOU BEST AND

 

[angief]

Yea they have plenty of food...in fact they waste alot but anyway...we have it set up so when the egg does roll away...if it does...they cant get to em...im not sure if they r steppin on the ones that dont roll and then its a free for all or if they r actually breakin em....i kno last wk at least one a day was broken for like 3 days that happened...now i try and keep a closer eye out as they lay em to keep em picked up

 

[cavemanrich]

Yea they have plenty of food...in fact they waste alot but anyway...we have it set up so when the egg does roll away...if it does...they cant get to em...im not sure if they r steppin on the ones that dont roll and then its a free for all or if they r actually breakin em....i kno last wk at least one a day was broken for like 3 days that happened...now i try and keep a closer eye out as they lay em to keep em picked up

I'm all with you. Keep those proteins for us humans.

 

[Sylviesoph]

Heya,
My experience is a little different. But first are you sure the chickens are eating the eggs?
I only ask because we have recently found magpies and crows actually flying into our chickens enclosure and walking up the stes to the coop... then decimating the eggs the chickens have just laid!!!

We filled up some eggs with mustard... the magpie came down ate it... spent a good 5 minutes at the bird bath afterwards and now hasn't ate another one... although the magpies still hang around.

I'm just a novice but this has been my experience

 

[angief]

Im sure its the chickens..... ive seen em on numerous occasions eatin em...lol...havin a good ole time and quik...lol

 

[Sylviesoph]

Im sure its the chickens..... ive seen em on numerous occasions eatin em...lol...havin a good ole time and quik...lol

What a pain! I wonder if you could fill them with English mustard? They won't eat the whole thing after a quick taste. I don't know if this would cause any harm though...

 

[Sylviesoph]

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

Mustard is the top tip if you click on the above link! 5 other tips as well!