egg eaters HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wynette]

That's what I would do, and I'd also (immediately!) put golf balls or wood eggs into each nest box (the hollow plastic eggs really aren't heavy enough and come apart too easily. I think I'd go ahead and blow some eggs out and put in the nasty horseradish, too, because it sounds like you've got a very serious issue already.

The very best way to stop it is to collect eggs hourly. THis way, you can get them out faster than they can get to them. I don't know what your situation is, but if you can pull your family members or even friends if need be together and get on a schedule to remove eggs immediately after they are laid, they will give up the habit, but it would take at least 7-10 days of diligence on your part.

 

[chickens~galore]

all right i will immeadiatly start doing that. any more suggestions?

 

[Wynette]

Do they freerange all day? If they are in a run any of the time, you could put treats out for them to "play" with. I do not freerange mine, but I hang suet feeders from the top of the run, and stuff them full of leafy greens; hang it at about back level so they can see what's in there. Since it's swinging, it takes some time/work for them to get the treat out, and greens are SO good for them, it's a doubly good thing. You can also tie a head of cabbage to the roof/ceiling for them...I do this out in the run, too. Cabbage leaves are so tight to the head, it takes them awhile to get them undone and eat them. Plus, it's great fun watching them trying to get to it! I also have several big plastic bins (automotive parts bins...very sturdy plastic) that I put around their run, and I move them around periodically; this gives them something to jump on, and it changes their environment a bit when you move things around.

 

[chickens~galore]

they free range all day. i think the egg eating is happening during the night and early morning when they are still in the house and i havent let them out yet.

 

[Wynette]

Well, I hate to say this, but it's a VERY difficult habit to break. Collecting eggs often is your very best bet!

 

[sundance]

I had been finding broken eggs in the nest but thought it was just the eggs bumping each other, since I have golf balls in the nest BUT,I went out the other day to collect the eggs and there is one of the hens happily eating the egg she just broke.I picked her up, carried her in the house very close under my arm and took the hot sauce out of the fridge, went back to the coop and poured PLENTY of the hot sauce on the egg she had been enjoying so much,set her back down in the nest and she promptly begin to eat the egg again,after about 2 bites she took off out of the coop, when I went out to shut them up that night, one of the golf balls had been rolled out of the nest, across a heavily hayed floor,over a 2x4 in the door and out the chicken run completely. So far, no more broken eggs, hope it stays that way or we will have chicken & dumplings one Sunday.

marrie

 

[Wynette]

sunance, funny story! I'm somewhat surprised the hot sauce helped, as I've been told they really can't "taste" chili flavoring. But, if it works, GREAT! I think it's definitley a habit that CAN be broken, just takes diligence. I've also known two people that sold egg eaters (told the buyers in advance), and once they egg eaters went to their new homes, they ceased the activity. Maybe because it was a new surrounding, and they had lots to think about other than eating eggs for long enough to break the habit? I dunno.

 

[sundance]

They all look alike, so if I knew for sure which one it was she would be gone tomorrow. They free range over half a day have plenty of food, hardshell(co-op told me same stuff as oyster shell) bread, treats and most anything she could want, so she better learn to leave MY eggs alone. marrie

 

[Wynette]

Another BYC member....I don't recall who....puts food dye in a blown out egg to find the culprit.

 

[chickens~galore]

you will never believe it but i blown out an egg and mixed up mustard, louisiana hot sauce, and a little dab of white vinegar and they liked it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i thought that would fix them but it didnt. well it may have worked a little. they would eat it and then after awhile leave and then come back for more after a couple of minutes. so now what do i do??