dog eating eggs out of the nest

[bridget-rdh]

Our dog has started eating eggs out of the nest. She enters through the open run door, then through the pop door. Our hens (and dog) free range, so both doors are open during the day.. Is there a way to make the nest boxes inacessible to the dog? We can't raise them any higher, and I don't think that would stop her anyway. She's a great dog, very protective of the hens!

 

[bobbi-j]

You might need to consider keeping the run door closed for a portion of the day until the hens are done laying, collect the eggs, and then let your hens free-range.

 

[farmergalmaine]

Id close the coop door while the dog is out so it cant eat them.

 

[1muttsfan]

You might consider building roll-out boxes. You could also use an invisible fence system to keep her away from the coop.

 

[bridget-rdh]

Thanks for the tips. But the dog is always out, we live on 30 acres. And we let the hens out as much as possible, and they lay at varying times. For example, I only had 11 eggs at 10:30 this morning but todays total is 24. We gathered really often today, so hopefully she wouldn't get any. I'm not sure what a roll-out box is, will research that. Thanks for the replies. I've seen comments on people using cayenne pepper in the boxes.. Supposedly chickens aren't sensitive to it but dogs are?

 

[daoustaj]

Drs foster and smith sell these correction mats for cats. If they step on it it may vibrate or give a light poke? And they also sell motion activated correction spray. If it senses movt it sprays

 

[zazouse]

My nest boxes are high enough that my dogs can't get the eggs, i let them have the ones they find in the barn on the ground in nest
those are theirs cause i never collect them so they either make it to hatch or the dogs get to have them, i feed eggs to the dogs anyhow sense i no longer sell them.
Roll away nest boxed would work if ya have someone to build you some or pay out the kazoo for some.

How many nest boxes do you have?

 

[bridget-rdh]

10 nest boxes. Brand new. And DH built them to last. With the set up of our coop, raising them would block a window so it's not an option. I think I'm going to try sprinkling cayenne in the nest boxes. I rinse all the eggs after gathering anyway. And it seems the easiest to try first. Also will gather more often.

 

[zazouse]

Pepper never stopped my dogs but my chickens like it.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Will the dog fit through a "chicken door"?