Egg Eating! Help!

[BANTAMWYANDOTTE]

I have three OEG mix Bantam hens that were eating eggs then one day. like magic, they all quit laying! I am feeding Laying Pellets (with Oyster Shells added) but have no idea why they were eating eggs. I know the basic reason most hens do it and my hens didn't have any of the common symptoms! I want to gather enough eggs from them before the nineteenth to incubate! I am breeding them to a Dutch Bantam rooster who was very well behave until I saw him EATING EGGS TOO! I hatched one chick from these hens and he is adorable! I want some more as Bantams are quick sellers around here. But without eggs I can forget it! Any advice on how to stop this matter would be appreciated!


Thanks!

Tim in KY

 

[berkeleysprings]

hollow out a few eggs fill with hot peper or mustard they will stop
Quote:

 

[Wisher1000]

This is a very hard habit to break. All of the culprits will have to be broken of it at the same time and no new ones introduced as they will teach others to do it. Try the soap or mustard in eggs, add wooden eggs or golf balls to the nests, gather the laid eggs as soon as they're laid, and increase the protein you are feeding. You have to make them forget about them and it has to be a long time before you let your guard down. Even then, you may not break them. Sometimes, your only option is either to segregate them completely and let them eat or dispatch them and start over. Sorry, I know that is not what you want to hear, but be prepared.

 

[Judy]

Rollaway nests, if they consistently lay in nests. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=464610

On the hot pepper, chickens don't have taste receptors for capasicin. Lots of golf balls or the like may well help.

From all I read, yes, it is very hard to break them of this. The old fashioned solution is chicken stew.

Good luck.

 

[berkeleysprings]

it was a quote from bev davis , i never tried it my self or needed to