Egg Pecking

[boom chicka boom]

Hello Chicken Friends,

I'm now an official member of this forum (my first ever internet forum) as of today! I have so many chicken questions but the first is very important. I've recently moved my chickens from there chicken condo near my house, down to the garden for the summer. They have much more space with this arrangement and they help to keep the bugs down in the garden. Since the big move, they have been pecking their eggs every morning. I only have four chickens, so they share a nesting box that I built for them inside a large portable dog house. I've been assuming that the move has stressed them out but it's been two weeks since the move and I really want my chickens to be portable and still lay eggs. Advice? Suggestions? Thanks in advance and I'm thrilled to now be part of the BYC community!

 

[rancher hicks]

From Syr, NY. has the size of the nest box changed? There was a guy on here who made his nest box smaller and the egg eating stopped. If your changing their food do it gradually. Make sure they're getting enough calcium, maybe what you perceive as eating may be shells that are too soft.
(disclaimer, I'm no expert,just my opinion).

 

[boom chicka boom]

Thanks for the reply. The nesting box size has not changed, I haven't changed their food. I will look into the calium thing but they had been doing fine up until the move. Hmmm. Mystery...

 

[Big dreams]

How about the lighting, I have heard that if you darken the nesting box they are less likely to peck at the eggs.