Egg eating chickens

[Dianner]

Why are my chickens eating their own eggs?

 

[brahmabreeder]

They probably found a broken egg on day and decided it tastes good and just continued breaking and eating them. Another thing is they could be breaking when they hit the nesting boxes and then they eat them because they are broken open.

 

[Michael Apple]

Sometimes it is nutritional, environmental, or just because they can. I've found that chickens prefer more protein than is commonly found in levels of layer ration (16%). They usually find it on range or you could start by mixing 1/4 game bird crumbles or starter/grower with you lay pellets/crumbles. Make sure you mix enough oyster shell in the feed. I mix instead of leave a big container of oyster shell ever since I had a hen get crop bound from eating too much of it.

Hens also like a nest area where they won't be harassed by other birds trying to edge them off their nest. They like it dark with as little noise as possible. I hung curtains over my nests made from shade cloth, put a curtain over an East window, put some realistic ceramic eggs in the nests, and it helped very much.

Sometimes there will be a troublemaker in the flock the other chickens see breaking and eating eggs and it becomes competitive, learned behavior. It also helps to get out there in the morning and check for eggs after they've been out for a few hours. Hope that helps.

 

[Michael Apple]

Also how many nests and how many birds do you have?

 

[ZoomuKeeper]

My Brahma yard is 60 foot by 60 foot with an 8 foot fence. I have 3 adult brahmas, 4 juvies and two that are still in the brooder. Also in the yard are 2 polish and 2 polish mix They played almost daily and I was getting tons of eggs a week. Then I started getting none. I thought they just stopped laying. I had seen them sitting in the nest does with others standing like they were waiting in line to lay. I have 8 nesting boxes all identical but I figured they had their favorite. Well I sat and watched till the hen go up after laying her egg and as soon as she did the others ran in and broke the egg and ate it. Another hen got in the nest so I kept watching oil she came out and I ran out to get the egg but I was too late the others had already broken it open. Now all of them are attacking eggs. They get plenty of food, they have their own compost pile to get tasty treats plus I cut up veggies for them. throughout the day. How do I stop this behavior? I do not want to kill them all and start over. I don't kill animals. I save them from people who do. I am retired and breeding and selling the fertile eggs and chicks that have hatched is my life line. Have other chicken yards with other breeds and I do not have this problem so I am guessing there was an accident and it was a good one now it is habit. HELP!!!!!!

 

[Hortgirl]

I just started having a similar problem, except only one (so far) hen seems to be the culprit. I am going to rewatch a video re blowing out the content of an egg and try filling it with mustard. Will post results

 

[ZoomuKeeper]

That would be wonerful

 

[rosemarythyme]

Look into roll away nest boxes. Or try adding a lot of fake eggs to discourage the egg eaters by giving them something they can't break into.

 

[gpresdo]

We feed our chickens egg shell's but, only after the shells are crushed into very small pieces.
Feeding them whole shells or large pieces is a no no. They have free choice calcium at all times.
We have never had a problem.

 

[Hortgirl]

Ok, two eggs hollowed with mustard inside, put them in different nest boxes although eggs only eaten in one box. Will report any results!