Egg eating hen. Help!

[bearz]

I have 25 hens. Yesterday we got a record 22 eggs from them!

For the most part they are well-behaved but I have an Egyptian Fayoumi who is eating eggs. I caught her in the act a couple of times and I don't dare set down the egg basket while gathering eggs because she goes after it.

This means that I have to collect eggs several times a day. I don't mind. Really. Its good exercise heading all the way out there but is there anything I can do to discourage her?

 

[willowcol]

I have heard if you blow out a few eggs and fill them with mustard that sometimes works. If I were you I think I would just get rid of her if you can. I had a few OEGH's that were eating thier eggs, found out they were just bored. I started adding hay and different things to the coop for them to mess with and it has stopped. Good luck.

 

[ZepChick]

have you tried hanging a head of lettuce? Our fayoumis just go wild for it and will peck at it until it's gone! just be careful with the string so they don't eat it

 

[bearz]

I don't think the lettuce would last long. I have 32 chickens and when they hear me coming they think "TREATS!" and they go nuts. You should see what happens when I throw in bread heels. Lettuce would probably cause heart attacks and would be gone in 2 minutes flat!

I don't know. I'll cage her and try the mustard trick. Maybe I can break her of the habit.

 

[PacsMan]

Take care of this ~quickly~!!

Other hens will follow her if they see her do it. Then you may have to trade in your whole flock!

Try peppered eggs or roll out nest boxes. But take care of it quickly!

 

[SuburbanChickFarmer]

What are peppered eggs? How do I make roll out nest boxes? I am having this same problem, unfortunately, these hens are my daughter's "pets" so she won't let me part with them. I work so I can't go out several times a day to collect eggs and am looking for a way to stop them from eating their eggs. I am getting no more than 4 eggs per day out of 10 hens! The Light Brahmas tell the story with egg yolk all over their white feathers!!!