Egg Eating.... Again -.-

[TheChicken4U]

My girls are eating eggs... again.

they've done it before, but we didnt do anything, eventually they stopped laying, so they had no eggs to eat, does putting in plastic eggs help? they all go mental over them! we have a nestbox tower sorta thing, and a broody hen was in one, an egg that was broken had dripped all over my broodys tail, when i chucked her out the nest, they all went mad, trying to eat the egg off her tail! i had to wash it off, but its getting worse, i collect the eggs and i find about 2 empty shells, and one smashed to bits! are they eating them? or are they being stood on and cracked? Thanks

 

[TheChicken4U]

Loads of views, no replys?

 

[Megan Amber]

Sounds like they are eating them.

Although a difficult habit to break it can indeed be done! When mine started doing it I removed the ones I knew were eating them and locked them up in a uncomfortably small cage for about a month and they have not done it again. I have also heard of a trick where you can take an egg(fake or not) and fill it with mustard, when they break the egg and get the mustard all over them they usually quite. And one more where if you put egg looking rocks in there they don't like pecking those either!

 

[TheChicken4U]

Sounds like they are eating them.

Although a difficult habit to break it can indeed be done! When mine started doing it I removed the ones I knew were eating them and locked them up in a uncomfortably small cage for about a month and they have not done it again. I have also heard of a trick where you can take an egg(fake or not) and fill it with mustard, when they break the egg and get the mustard all over them they usually quite. And one more where if you put egg looking rocks in there they don't like pecking those either!

Thanks again for replying to my questions Ill try the mustard trick, but knowing some of my hens they'll still try

I Would get some rock eggs, but they might be hard to find, plus im not an amazing looker Thanks for your help

 

[Megan Amber]

What about golf balls? Those might work to!

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!!!

Glad you joined us!!

 

[redsoxs]

One option is the "roll away" style nest box. The laying area slants forward and the freshly laid egg rolls forward and under a covered area - safe from pecking. If they are chronic it might be the only solution. Good luck to you and

 

[liz9910]

x2 on redsoxs's advice, also try posting to this forum: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/18/chicken-behaviors-and-egglaying good luck to you!

 

[drumstick diva]

what redsoxs says - I believe is the best way.