Egg Eater?

[bigredfeather]

I think I have at least one egg eater in my flock of 12 hens. Anybody have any suggestions as to how and combat this? I have not caught them in the act, but I know for sure now that eggs are coming up missing during the day, and I don't suspect another animal.

 

[jprice2ndlt]

I have read that you can put an egg filled with mustard in the nest and when they eat it it should help break them

 

[M To The Maxx]

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I have red that too.

 

[Andi]

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I'm noticing that you say there are eggs missing. If it were a single chicken there would likely be remains of the shell left at least. With 12 hens they're probably all joining in on the treat.

I'm no expert, but the first thing that comes to mind is thin shells making for easy breaking.

I also wonder if upping the girls protein and calcium would help.

What about adding dummy eggs to the nests so they attempt breaking but without the reward of egg. I've read they sometimes give up trying.

Do you have new layers in there that may naturally have thinner shells or be laying them from high perches?

 

[M To The Maxx]

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I'm noticing that you say there are eggs missing. If it were a single chicken there would likely be remains of the shell left at least. With 12 hens they're probably all joining in on the treat.

I'm no expert, but the first thing that comes to mind is thin shells making for easy breaking.

I also wonder if upping the girls protein and calcium would help.

What about adding dummy eggs to the nests so they attempt breaking but without the reward of egg. I've read they sometimes give up trying.

Do you have new layers in there that may naturally have thinner shells or be laying them from high perches?

Usually the real egg eater starts eating the egg then everyone else joins in. The girls that join in didn't care about it in the first place.

 

[bigredfeather]

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The shells are not thin. AAMAF, I recently added more Calcium to my feed ration to help with this.

I don't think they are laying them from their roost. My roost isn't that high, and with the amount of bedding I have, I would think it would cushion the fall if that were the case.

I considered upping their protein. I may pick-up some Sea-Lac or bean meal tonight and top dress their feed with it. I hope that is the problem, because that is an easy fix. I have never heard of the mustard thing, but I will try that as well.

Thanks everybody.

 

[bigredfeather]

Could it be the fact they are a hybrid sex links? I know these are typically not as bright as a full blooded breed.

 

[Praxxus]

My hens eat their eggs in the late winter when they start up laying for the year. This is a sign that I need to toss a little crushed oyster shell into their feed. This stops it every time. Also if a hen lays in a nest with not enough straw in it, sometimes the egg breaks as it hits the hard wood of the box because they lift thier butts to lay the egg. Eating the egg is pretty much her natural way of getting rid of the mess.

 

[chookchick]

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Interesting obsevarvation! Yes I would give them a little more protein, and make sure they have access to oyster shell at all times. I had a problem with that when my hens were young, now all is fine. BTW I tried the mustard thing, and it did not work at all, whatever you do, don't do the soap egg! Putting an egg shaped rock might help slow them down a bit.

 

[bigredfeather]

I am going to be home the next four days, and will be working in the coop part of the time, so I will be able to keep a close eye on them and maybe catch the perp. I am will up their protein as well staring tonight. One way or another, I need to get this under control, and now I have some direction.

Thanks again.