getting irritating, MIL's rant about wyandottes!

[Ducklove334]

OK, guys, help me clear this up PLEASE

we have two white wyandottes that we got at auction the previous summer, they were fine UNTIL this fall, then they started eating eggs

EVER since we found out they were the culprits my fiances mother has been ON AND ON about how much she doesn't like the BREED, how wyandottes in general are egg eaters, how she wishes she hadn't gotten the two wyandotte chicks(golden and silver laced), how she wants to get rid of the two younger wyandotte pullets, thier brother sadly HAS to go, but them? why??

and blah and blah!

set this straight, ARE wyandottes in general a BREED that eats eggs? are they some vicious infanticide committing devil birdie birdie cluck clucks?!

 

[moduckman]

No two birds are alike. Many times egg eaters crave something - calcium or whatever. Not all egg eaters are wyandottes and not all Wyandottes are egg eaters. Make sure the birds have oyster shell, grit and/or dirt. A vitamin supplement may also be needed. Once a chicken learns the trick of breaking and eating eggs, it is hard to break that habit.

 

[Marlinchaser]

I dont know if all wyandottes are egg eater, but I know of two that would go nicely with egg noodles if they dont change thier ways real quick.

 

[riderbecky]

I have 11 wyandottes in total and I've never seen them eating eggs. The egg eater at my place is my dog...

I love my wyandottes (GL and SL) They're molting right now so looking a little ratty but I love how they don't take any BS from the roos.

I also read somewhere that if you somehow darken the next boxes they will lay but not go back to eat...

But try upping their protein in the mean time with supplimental feed. I've recently added alfalfa pellets free choice with their morning scratch. I did this to suppliment for the greens that they can't get here in the winter. I'm in Canada.

Figured out they don't like them soaked as you would with horses but prefer to have them dry... just make sure they have lots of water on hand.

 

[highcountrychickens]

Oh my Columbian Wyandottes are the gentlest of all of my birds - incredible hardy layers too - laid eggs right through the winter. I understand your frustration though - I had a Buff Rock that would peck and break the end of every egg that wasn't hers, and I just simply couldn't stand her... We gave her to a local B&B where her buns were kicked by their hens the first day, and she is now the favorite hen of every guest there... go figure.

I'm with Ducklove334... it's more likely a nutrition thing than a breed thing. Try some of the Rooster Booster supplements or some protein via soft cat food, or strange as it sounds - some hard boiled egg smashed into a meal (mine are stupid for this) I did this to stop a really stubborn case of feather picking - worked like a champ.

I don't know, it's easy to generalize about breeds, and while it may be said that some have tendencies like ranginess, or they are quiet, gentle, or stand confinement well/poorly, etc.. as for specific behaviors, I don't think they carry genetic neuroses traits to eat eggs, pick feathers, insist on laying in one particular nest box or fuss incessantly until they are let out, as my Husband claims.

 

[Ducklove334]

well, we've got someone coming tomorrow to pick them up, he wants some more wyandottes for his flock, I'm gonna miss them, but hey, it's not my dicision

 

[coffeemama]

Sorry

I had a wyandotte that ate eggs, but I wouldn't say it's a breed thing because of it.

 

[Ducklove334]

the guy never showed

shows her for being a complete B#*&*&^*& all day today!

 

[verlaj]

I love my Wyandottes - they are beautiful, very self-sufficient, and good layers. They do not eat eggs. They sometimes go broody and they love to make a nest somewhere out in the bushes and make me hunt for eggs, but they never eat the eggs. I have had GLWs for about 7 years and had SLWs in the past. I ordered Columbian Wyandotte chicks from Ideal this year to try another color, I like them so much.

 

[dturren]

I have three 1 year old Wyandottes. They lay almost every day (even in the winter) and they do not eat their eggs. They are beautiful, gentle chickens. I do feed them cat food and extra protein in the winter, so maybe this helps.