egg eating

[TerryLee48]

My 5 chickens are 18 mos old and have been laying well. Two weeks ago they started eating the eggs before I can collect them. Do you have any sugestions on how to cure this? They seem to have plenty of food and water all day.I give them oyster shell with the laying pellets. Any help will be greatly appreciated and passed on. Thanks

 

[okiron]

I have read that people put golf balls down so the chickens might start to think nothing will happen from pecking at eggs.

 

[TerryLee48]

thank you for your reply. I started that this morning. 2 broked eggs and 2 good eggs. thanks

 

[Imp]

TerryLee48,

I had this same problem last December with new laying pullets. I was able to break them from egg eating by rearranging the coop to shake things up. Adding 5 gallon buckets as nests. Putting golf balls and stone eggs in the nests. And collecting as often as I could. It was fortunate that I was on vacation at the time. Others have suggested filling blown out eggs with mustard or horseradish. And adding more protein or calcium to their diet. Also I have heard of people adding curtains in front of the nests so the eggs weren't so visible and it is darker in the nests. Good Luck.

Imp- Thinks speed & diligence is of the essence

 

[LilbitChicken]

WOW....I HOPE I don't have that problem
If I do, I was going to try the painted rocks (look like eggs) so they would be discouraged with the effort of trying too break the eggs open.

 

[NireRN]

Tried it all. Rearranged chooks to find out who was pecking. When I thought I knew, someone else was doing it!!! Had a Blue cochin bantam roo and 4 blue hens and 1 Turken hen. I got frustrated and sent them off to auction in 2 separate boxes. Hopefully this will really shake them up and they will stop! Got new babies starting and didn't want the cycle to continue.

 

[pinkchick]

This may sound silly but here is what I did to fix my egg eater.
I sacrificed a couple of eggs and smeared the pine tar no pick stuff all over them and put them back in the nest box that they all seem to fight over even though they have 7 boxes. After 4 days of eggs smeared with this stuff I have not had one egg eaten. I figured if they didn't like it when its on the bird, they wouldn't like it on the egg!

 

[happyhensny]

GRRRR

My hens have gone on and off the egg eating habit! Tried the mustard in the egg trick - THEY LOVE MUSTARD - SPICY BROWN KIND ate it all! tried some homemade roll out nests - they started laying outside while ranging and hiding the dang eggs. Bought some Oyster Shell. Now, they are confined to the run, I took out the roll outs hoping that the changes would be enough and NOPE! Found half an egg in there today. Someone might end up being Fricasseed! (only kidding-can't eat any of them, they have NAMES) So, if you get any new ideas please post them - thanks!

 

[billiebrat]

I am having the same problem. I do not know what set it off, but it needs to stop. Someone help please. I am going to try the rocks and golf balls.

 

[kelliepulido]

I waas also having the same issue.I per suggestion of someone here hung up some tarps to try and keep the nest area dark and abit less traffic,I keep the food out of that area,put them all back on chick starter,have a bowl of oyster shell,and put out stratch grain eevery day.It hass helped alot.I know it is bad luck so knock on wood somewhere to talk about it going ok.I also try to keep eggs picked up frequently.and the gulf balls.