Destructive Chickens

[lemonie12]

Hi, I have some destructive chickens! My problems started about two months ago and I'm not sure how to "fix" it. I'm a city girl with her first flock of chickens! We've had this group for 10 months and it's gone smooth until recently...

1) I use straw in my laying boxes but as of lately I can't keep the straw in the boxes. The chickens are kicking it all out. And the boxes get pretty dirty when they do that!
2) I have a few chickens eating eggs. I've gone into the coop to collect eggs and sometimes there will be a chicken in the box eating or pecking at the eggs. Other times I will collect eggs where one in the group has obviously been broken and eaten. This problem makes other eggs rather messy. When I am in there collecting eggs some will try to peck the eggs in the basket, most of the time they succeed in cracking one or two.
3) Dirty eggs. I'm trying to keep the boxes lined so the eggs will stay clean but problems 1 & 2 are making it difficult. Some of the chickens will also poop in the box so it gets on the eggs too. I'm guessing this happens when they are in there to lay because they don't "hang out" in the boxes, they're only in there when laying....and snacking.

I have a good size coop for them with plenty of laying boxes a large roosting area. They have a fenced in "yard" so they can go in and out of the coop. We keep them stocked with food and water.

Any others have experience with rebellious chickens? They are driving me nuts right now! How did you fix it? Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!!

 

[Stayc]

Hello as far as egg eating behavior you will have to be diligent in removing the eggs right away or be willing to make roll away nesting boxes.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/roll-away-nesting-box.76189/
Mine have recently started kicking all the straw out of their nesting boxes too. I have a back up box in the run that they have been using lately so i just figured that was the cause. Sorry not much help there
As for the poopy nest I'm also not much help. Mine usually just do their business and go. If i get a dirty egg it's usually my hen that gets a poopy backside occasionally or their feet from mud and poop i assume. I have red clay dirt so the rains really make the ground a big mush of wet clay best of luck with them

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

1. Some of my chickens used to do that, and they stopped after a while. Sadly, I don't know what to do for it. hopefully they will stop. I think they do it to look for treats.
2. Do you have oyster shell? I I would try to collect the eggs continually through the day. But, sometimes if a Hen gets a taste of the eggs, it's hard to stop them.
3. Are are they hens sleeping in there?

 

[CCUK]

This may help.
Hello, new to site, old problems.

 

[PirateGirl]

If your chickens are kicking the nest material out, when they lay an egg and it hits the nest it is more likely to crack and a cracked egg is more likely to be eaten. Your issues may all be related.

Maybe try nesting pads or a piece of old carpet or something that can't be scratched out as easily.

Also if your nest boxes are close to floor level the chickens tend to scratch in them more, maybe they can be raised up a bit.

Good luck. Hopefully you will get more advice on the egg eating.

 

[aart]

Do the broken egg have thin shells...and thus easily broken?
What and how exactly are you feeding?
Egg eating can become a bad habit, but can start due to lack of nutrition or easily broken thin or soft shelled eggs.
Do you have lots of time each day to check on the birds frequently?
Gathering eggs frequently can help....also putting fake eggs in nests.

 

[lemonie12]

Thanks everyone! Right now their feed is primarily ground corn but also get sunflowers/seed, wheat seed and kitchen scraps. Most shells are not thin at all but there's a few that are. A few chickens do like to peck at the eggs I collect in the basket while I'm in there. At first I thought they were curious but I'm sure they do it on purpose. I've had to pull a chicken out of the nest before, she was trying to break the eggs to eat.

I use to not have any problems so hopefully it is just a phase they will come out of! I collect them once a day but can't really get in to collect more than that on most days.

I appreciate the feedback, thank you again!

 

[Hensndoes]

Thanks everyone! Right now their feed is primarily ground corn but also get sunflowers/seed, wheat seed and kitchen scraps. Most shells are not thin at all but there's a few that are. A few chickens do like to peck at the eggs I collect in the basket while I'm in there. At first I thought they were curious but I'm sure they do it on purpose. I've had to pull a chicken out of the nest before, she was trying to break the eggs to eat.

I use to not have any problems so hopefully it is just a phase they will come out of! I collect them once a day but can't really get in to collect more than that on most days.

I appreciate the feedback, thank you again!

Well there ya go. I was reading your issues and kept asking myself what feed? Chickens need a balance of protein and calcium coupled with ample coop and run space per chicken. People will say different things about feed and farm stores will carry 8 different kinds of layer pellet yet only 1 feed high in protein. I feed a 20% all flock and keep a constant supply of oyster shell on the side. Treats are kept to a small amount daily and are normally kale or pumpkin for entertainment. Only a few times a week do they get scratch.

Corn is not a balanced diet and will sprout issues.

 

[CannedMonster]

Well there ya go. I was reading your issues and kept asking myself what feed? Chickens need a balance of protein and calcium coupled with ample coop and run space per chicken. People will say different things about feed and farm stores will carry 8 different kinds of layer pellet yet only 1 feed high in protein. I feed a 20% all flock and keep a constant supply of oyster shell on the side. Treats are kept to a small amount daily and are normally kale or pumpkin for entertainment. Only a few times a week do they get scratch.

Corn is not a balanced diet and will sprout issues.

Exactly!! They need more protein and a balanced diet. Right now they have discovered the eggs give them what they need.
They need a good feed with plenty of protein, oyster shell on the side free choice and grit free choice.
Also collect the eggs frequently to discourage this new bad habit.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

Hi, I have some destructive chickens! My problems started about two months ago and I'm not sure how to "fix" it. I'm a city girl with her first flock of chickens! We've had this group for 10 months and it's gone smooth until recently...

1) I use straw in my laying boxes but as of lately I can't keep the straw in the boxes. The chickens are kicking it all out. And the boxes get pretty dirty when they do that!
2) I have a few chickens eating eggs. I've gone into the coop to collect eggs and sometimes there will be a chicken in the box eating or pecking at the eggs. Other times I will collect eggs where one in the group has obviously been broken and eaten. This problem makes other eggs rather messy. When I am in there collecting eggs some will try to peck the eggs in the basket, most of the time they succeed in cracking one or two.
3) Dirty eggs. I'm trying to keep the boxes lined so the eggs will stay clean but problems 1 & 2 are making it difficult. Some of the chickens will also poop in the box so it gets on the eggs too. I'm guessing this happens when they are in there to lay because they don't "hang out" in the boxes, they're only in there when laying....and snacking.

I have a good size coop for them with plenty of laying boxes a large roosting area. They have a fenced in "yard" so they can go in and out of the coop. We keep them stocked with food and water.

Any others have experience with rebellious chickens? They are driving me nuts right now! How did you fix it? Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!!