Egg Eating

[junebuggena]

My chickens did the exact same thing! they would lay the egg, turn around, and eat it up!! And I was feeding them lots too! It helps if you put 2 or 3 golf balls in the nesting boxes. I tried it and it had an awesome result!!

No more eaten eggs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not about how much you are feeding, it's WHAT you are feeding that matters.

 

[pukidu]

Not sure i am doing this right. I am having the same problem with eaten eggs. Started out being every once in while but started to increase. At first I thought it was the dogs. Now I get 1 a day eaten. I don't like missing the eggs nor do I like the mess it leaves in hen house. Will try the golf balls to see if it helps.

 

[junebuggena]

Not sure i am doing this right. I am having the same problem with eaten eggs. Started out being every once in while but started to increase. At first I thought it was the dogs. Now I get 1 a day eaten. I don't like missing the eggs nor do I like the mess it leaves in hen house. Will try the golf balls to see if it helps.

What are you feeding? Are you giving extras like scratch, treats, or scraps?

 

[slukeplass22]

See the answers on the previous page.

 

[harmesonfarm]

so glad I found this thread, very helpful tips.

I've got 7 pullets all just beginning to lay, and one has now taken a liking to do the exact same thing as yours...eating her eggs right after she lays it but no one else's egg.
I'll be trying to increase their protein and hopefully it helps. Only her eggs were with a more brittle shell (she laid a few before she started to eat them, probably because one broke accidentally and the rest is history), everyone else's eggs have a much stronger shell. She's also the youngest pullet we have laying even before some of the others are, perhaps her shells will increase in strength with age and it will help stop the egg eating as well.


Hoping these suggestions you've had solve it, has there been any good results you've noticed so far waterfaery? Otherwise i'll be looking for someone who wants pet chicken named Lemon...

 

[slukeplass22]

She'll probably lay better eggs as she gets older.

One thing you can do if things get really bad is feed her a bit of an omlet. I try to use as little oil (I use olive oil, canola's bad for you) as possible when cooking the omlet.

Scrambled/Omletted (if that's a word) Eggs taste different from raw eggs, and the chickens won't be able to tell the difference.

 

[harmesonfarm]

Thanks, I'll give that a try

 

[mspat37]

My Delaware has laid four eggs. the first two in the nesting box, the third one on one side outside of the coop, and today she laid on the opposite side of the coop and was eating it when I come out to find it. Now I'm nervous that she's going to go in the coop and eat other two hen eggs that should be laying today but after I leave. She was a chicken that I rescued. Not sure what to do now. First time chicken owner and stressed out now. Is this going to be her habit? I know the first two were laid in the nesting box and never touched and they had sat there for a little while. ?????? ?

 

[mspat37]

Okay so now I go back outside there's a smaller egg, brown, and she's the only one that lays brown eggs and she's picking at it and my other two hens come over and start picking at it I snatch it up. Could she possibly have laid two eggs in a day I know it was not laying there the first time I found the first egg. Please please someone help

 

[slukeplass22]

I'd take the eggs out of the nester as soon as possible on a regular basis for around two weeks. I'd also wait and see if she eats anymore eggs. If she does then you may have to take some other actions. It may also have to do with diet or nester conditions. What feed is your hen currently on? Do they have plenty of nester bedding?