egg eating - putting salt in the water?

[tealness]

My mom has a few chickens that have started eating their eggs. Someone told her to put salt in their water to cure it. Has anyone ever heard of this? She tried it and claims it helped (which I doubt).

I'm worried this is not only just an old wive's tale, that it's possibly dangerous for the chickens to have nothing but salty water to drink-- I know chickens are susceptible to salt toxicity so this seems like a terrible idea to me.

Any thoughts?

 

[canesisters]

I can't imagine how that would stop them from eating eggs. Maybe you could suggest that they possibly need more space or a higher protein food??

 

[Pele]

I think your concerns are valid, especially with the extreme heat problems during this time of year.

If you want to go the consumables route, I've heard that booby-trapping hollowed eggs with mustard helps to break them. Apparently they can't stand mustard, and start associating it with the eggs. It's worth a try.

 

[chfite]

I would not add salt to their water.

It might help to collect the eggs more frequently.

Chris

 

[Nicole01]

I heard salt can kill a chicken and its poison to their body.

I've heard people putting a hole in the egg to empty out the yolk and white, then refilling with mustard.

 

[ChicKat]

My mom has a few chickens that have started eating their eggs. Someone told her to put salt in their water to cure it. Has anyone ever heard of this? She tried it and claims it helped (which I doubt).

I'm worried this is not only just an old wive's tale, that it's possibly dangerous for the chickens to have nothing but salty water to drink-- I know chickens are susceptible to salt toxicity so this seems like a terrible idea to me.

Any thoughts?

tealness---

welcome to the BYC forum.

In Gail Damerwow's book Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens she gives a formula for increasing chicken's salt intake. One tablespoon of salt per gallon of water in the drinker for one morning, then repeat the salt treatment 3-days later. At all other times provide plenty of fresh unsalted water.

This recipe is to stop feather picking..since salt deficiency causes chickens to crave blood and feathers. Soooo although not a recipe to stop egg eating, a definite suggestion that chickens DO need some salt and it can be safely administered. :O)