Egg Eaters!

[delawaregirl09]

I have 26 Hens and Pullets together in a pen with a rooster and 1-2 eggs are getting eaten sometimes. Any suggestions? * 7 Delaware Hens, 5 Mixed, 8 Delaware Pullets, 2 RIR Pullets, 4 RSL Pullets, 1 Delaware Rooster*

 

[LegHorn-BusHorn]

Mine did eat the first couple, then I put a couple of golf balls in, so they would know where to lay and also they couldn't crack the golf ball. It seemed to work, except not all are laying where they are supposed to yet. They haven't eaten any eggs in about 2 weeks.

 

[delawaregirl09]

Huh, okay. That sounds pretty good, and Hello! Thank you for replying. I've been wondering about this because I heard to place some soap in an egg, and feed them fish and yogurt, but I'm not so sure about feeding them fish

 

[chookchick]

The soap, mustard, etc.. in the egg trick doesn't work well. Soap makes them sick, mine ate the mustard shell anyway...Make sure they have plenty of oystershell available, even with layer food, for strong shells. Use plenty of straw in the nests for padding. Put golfballs or rocks in the nest to confuse them, and collect eggs frequently. You might also want to up their protein with yogurt, low-salt fish, washed cottage cheese, worms, etc...

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

How do you know they are getting ate? And if they are eating them the best thing to do is find the ones who are indulging and take them out of the pen...they will eventually teach the others to do the same. IF they are getting broken by accident and then they are eating them then I wouldn't worry to much. But if they are purposely breaking them then it's hard to break them of that. Most people here end up getting rid of the "bad" chickens who are doing it.

 

[delawaregirl09]

Hmm, okay. Those sound wonderful.

And I know they are getting eaten because I have walked up and found a couple start pecking the egg and breaking into it. I threw them in with young roosters to get their minds of eggs and on getting away (the hens out number the roosters, no worries) I'm not home all day, I have school and work, so I will do what I can. They keep scratching out all their straw and shavings, etc!! It's like they want to lay on hard wood Strange birds, eh? I will be getting rid of my older hens when my pullets start laying, hopefully things will get better when I try these tactics.