Egg eaters⁸

[Beachgirl8796]

have 4 hens that are not the best layers. I get about 6 eggs a week. I should they get 6 eggs a week because they eat them. I have tried wooden eggs I "collect" as soon as I get home from work but all thats left is evidence of an egg? I told if they don't stop eating my breakfast....they might be dinner. Any advice on getting them to stop?

 

[thecatumbrella]

Can you change over to a rollaway nest box? There's some pretty expensive metal ones that not every chicken wants to use (guess how I know), but you can make your own with a slanted floor and a collection area the chickens can't access.

I'm pretty sure @Ted Brown has engineered one. He might be able to provide some pics!

 

[Ted Brown]

@thecatumbrella is correct and for the same reason.

Mine is a roll to the inside (walk in coop), 7' long with seven "boxes" heights 16" depth 12" with additional 10" run away along the bottom section. Mounted under one of the drop boards forming the roof, two ends, a wood front with 7 round holes, the run away is attached to each side with a 2.5" gap below the front piece, floor is slanted from back to front with back 3" higher than the front. The runaway has a top made of two 7' hinged pieces that sit on 1" x 1" pieces of wood attached to each side; both pieces are very easily removed but eggs sit under the front hinged piece so can be removed by lifting that piece only. The floor is covered by a single piece of artificial turf that I can remove for shaking or more vigorous cleaning (rarely required).

The whole nest box was made from left over pieces of plywood.

I did have to experiment with floor depth and the height of the gap under the front. I had to extend the floor width as I discovered that hens have long necks and will attempt to get at the slightly out of reach eggs.

I am adept at construction but it was almost trivial to construct. A few hours including putting it in place. I recited measurements from memory so they may not be 100% accurate, can measure and take pictures if needed.

Good luck!

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

have 4 hens that are not the best layers. I get about 6 eggs a week. I should they get 6 eggs a week because they eat them. I have tried wooden eggs I "collect" as soon as I get home from work but all thats left is evidence of an egg? I told if they don't stop eating my breakfast....they might be dinner. Any advice on getting them to stop?

BG,
How old are your hens, do they all lay in the same box, how large are the nesting boxes? Most likely you have one egg eater, once the egg is broken they all clean-up.