They are eating 16% protein layer crumbles, scratch with oyster shell mixed in and lots of fresh fruits and veggies. I will try and make the nests darker. I wonder if the soft egg situation started a bad habit?
OK if it were me, I'd stop all treats and just feed your layer crumbles with oyster shell on the side. See if that will solve the problem for a week or so, and if it doesn't then you may want to go the mustard route.
All hens will egg eat when there is a soft-shelled egg.
It does become a habit, and they teach each other. However, I must tell you that I was convinced I had a problem with this at one time a few years back. I was ready to get rid of a group of chickens I knew were egg eating. But I delayed my decision and then the problem stopped all of a sudden.
If there is only one chicken doing it, some will cull fast and get her out of there before she teaches the rest of them. If there have been soft shelled eggs though, you can't blame them as that is a natural response when they see/peck what they perceive as something good there. This is the reason for the golf balls in the nest...to teach them there is no reward for pecking an egg.
The broken eggshells though are bad...so I'd switch the diet pronto. You can even switch them to unmedicated chick starter or Flock Raiser which should be 20% protein (layer is usually 16%) if you think they need more protein temporarily. Eggs are protein. But be sure to have that oyster shell there for them, as those feeds will not contain enough calcium for them.
So by increasing their protein by stopping the scratch/treats, I am hoping that they will not be as interested in a high-protein treat. I don't know if it will work or not.
