Egg eater problem from silkies

[sapphiresilkie7]

So I discovered I have a problem, which is new. Last week I was getting eggs and this week it’s only one a day in the coop. I have four hens (silkies).

I was watching my camera and saw one chicken lay an egg in the middle of the run and THREE HENS all went for it and ate it.

Is there anyway to break them of this?
I’m not killing the chickens. I have silkies so obviously I’m not in it for the eggs but I do enjoy the eggs and prefer they aren’t eaten.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do they normally lay in nesting boxes?

If laying in the run is an odd behavior, then sometimes the egg may be a soft shell/shell-less egg - these seem to be fair game if not in a nesting box.

IF this is a one-time thing, then I wouldn't worry too much about it, but if you notice they are starting to pick at and eat hard shelled eggs in nesting boxes, then it would be a good to consider roll away nesting boxes.

 

[sapphiresilkie7]

Do they normally lay in nesting boxes?

If laying in the run is an odd behavior, then sometimes the egg may be a soft shell/shell-less egg - these seem to be fair game if not in a nesting box.

IF this is a one-time thing, then I wouldn't worry too much about it, but if you notice they are starting to pick at and eat hard shelled eggs in nesting boxes, then it would be a good to consider roll away nesting boxes.

They do normally lay in nesting boxes. I noticed I wasn’t getting many eggs this week and just happened to be watching the camera when one was laid in the run, which is odd for them. So with the lack of eggs I’m thinking its been happening all week.

Thanks for your reply

 

[FrostRanger]

What type of feed do you feed them, how much protein does it have and do they get any treats? It's possible they aren't getting enough protein or more likely calcium. Do you provide oyster shells? If not, put some out for them and see if that helps

 

[sapphiresilkie7]

What type of feed do you feed them, how much protein does it have and do they get any treats? It's possible they aren't getting enough protein or more likely calcium. Do you provide oyster shells? If not, put some out for them and see if that helps

They get a 20 percent protein feed and black fly larvae mealworm treats plus random veggies. I actually have oyster shell arriving today so I will start that! Thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They do normally lay in nesting boxes. I noticed I wasn’t getting many eggs this week and just happened to be watching the camera when one was laid in the run, which is odd for them. So with the lack of eggs I’m thinking its been happening all week.

Thanks for your reply

If you can go out when the egg is laid in the run, see if it's a soft shelled or shell less egg.

If they normally lay in the nesting boxes, watch to see if that particular hen is being kept from the boxes or that there may be bugs in the boxes which make it uncomfortable for them to lay eggs.