Eggy McThief!

[Gigi_lg]

Hello,
I’ve noticed that I’m not getting as many eggs lately and I caught one of my hens eating the eggs after being laid. She also often mounts the lowest ranking hen.
How can I get her to stop eating the eggs?
All the hens have vitamins including calcium in their water. Should I be giving additional calcium?
Thank you.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Did you see her break the egg open or did you only see her eating the egg? Almost all chickens if they find a cracked or broken egg will eat it. The lack of eggs in general is most likely due to lower daylight hours. On the US side of the world many of us are getting fewer eggs right now.

 

[nuthatched]

Raise the protein of the feed if you're concerned but it's because of winters short days.

 

[Gigi_lg]

Did you see her break the egg open or did you only see her eating the egg? Almost all chickens if they find a cracked or broken egg will eat it. The lack of eggs in general is most likely due to lower daylight hours. On the US side of the world many of us are getting fewer eggs right now.

She’s always hanging around when other hens are laying and she’ll go straight in there when the hens move away from their eggs, she break the eggs and eat them.

 

[Gigi_lg]

Raise the protein of the feed if you're concerned but it's because of winters short days.

I’m actually in South Africa, so we’re coming into our summer now and the days are long and hot.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

She’s always hanging around when other hens are laying and she’ll go straight in there when the hens move away from their eggs, she break the eggs and eat them.

try placing wooden eggs in the nest, and she will try to eat the wooden eggs and decide she doesn't like eggs anymore. or, you could paint the nest black and add a dark curtain. she might not eat as many eggs if she can't see where they are.

 

[nuthatched]

I’m actually in South Africa, so we’re coming into our summer now and the days are long and hot.

Ok, then what's the nutrition on their feed?

 

[aart]

I’m actually in South Africa

Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Gigi_lg]

try placing wooden eggs in the nest, and she will try to eat the wooden eggs and decide she doesn't like eggs anymore. or, you could paint the nest black and add a dark curtain. she might not eat as many eggs if she can't see where they are.

I’ll try that. Thank you.

 

[ChicNmom]

You can take a mostly intact egg shell and then fill it with soapy water.
Some have suggested a yellow colored dish soap so it looks eggy.

That has worked for me. I always have fake ceramic eggs in some of the layer boxes. I'm sure they know they aren't real eggs.