HELP! CHICKENS EATING EGGS

[House of Lange]

I have the same problem too!! I wasn't sure if it was the other chickens eating the one hens eggs or if she was eating her own.I brought 3 home from the MIL's farm and they were great layers for about 2 weeks, then they just stopped. I brought The Princess home with me 2 weeks later because...well...quite frankly..i did not like the way the Peacocks were treating her... Now she sits in the first nest in the coop and she lays her eggs there, but some are getting eaten..are the others jealous because she has a nice breast?? Girls can be that way ya know...
Something else I wanted to ask...in The Princess box...there were FIVE eggs yesterday..I collect daily....Did she lay FIVE eggs in less than 24 hrs or are the other girls all laying eggs in one nest and The Princess sits on all of them??

 

[Linnren]

Is she acting broody?

 

[tslaven]

I had the egg eating problem a few weeks ago.. Well not me personally, but you know what I mean..I followed the advice of adding purchased shell material, and the problem stopped. This sight is so helpful, but it has solidified in my kids' minds that I am a "crazy chicken lady". I just spent a relaxing hour planting bulbs with the company if my old English "teeny" and bantam Cochin, Sylvia. They seemed to think that my digging was solely for their benefit. Silly girls.. I think they will be sick with all of the worms they snarfed down.

 

[seminolewind]

Yea, I put lots of oyster shell in their feed and the egg eating has really slowed down.

 

[Ginbreesim]

Well I would to thank you all.... I've read the comments on what to do for my "egg eating delaware." They have stopped the eating of their eggs and have once again started laying... YAY!!

I did try the mustard in the egg... and would you believe,they enjoyed it... Anyways...they are laying and that's what we wanted. This being our third year raising chickens,we really enjoy it all! Also,we were told that the Buckeye breed for some reason stop laying on their second year.... now,whether this is true or not,mine have stopped!
So, we have gotten some more Delaware chicks,silver laced Wyandottes, White Rock and Langshan chicks.

This should be interesting and fun!!!


So,thanks for your help it is very much appreciated....

Ginny

 

[emmapal]

We have struggled with an egg eater this past year (I caught her red handed eating her own that she laid out of the coop, the little stinker, with yolk all over her beak). I bought 2 dozen ceramic eggs from McMurray's Hatchery (tried plastic ones, but they were too lightweight and got dragged out of the nest boxes too easily, and shopping around McM had the best price on ceramics). Watched her saunter into the coop, over to the nest box, and start pecking like she knew that was where to find snacks. Hurt her little beak, and I don't feel bad! She left without getting any snack.

Since we put those in there, I just pick up eggs once a day or every other day, and no instance of eating. I thought about trying golf balls, but I wanted them to look really similar to real eggs so she wouldn't learn to visually tell the difference. Hoping she doesn't get smart and go by smell, lol! So far, so good.

I just started feeding their shells back to them again after not bothering for a few years, just in case, to hopefully stave off any need she has to try harder to find the "prize" in the pile of fakes.

 

[andi6313]

I tried the mustard thing to and mine really liked the mustard, they ate it, egg shell and all...

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

I tried the mustard thing to and mine really liked the mustard, they ate it, egg shell and all...

OMG, I'm so sorry. It's so true that what one hen hates, another loves. Maybe try some spicy brown mustard or a different kind and see if that works.

Certainly, put out some fake eggs. Golf balls work well. I have plastic Easter Eggs in mine. Or maybe you can fine some wooden or ceramic eggs to fake them out.

Collect eggs often if possible.

I know one lady who had a terrible time and finally invested in some roll away nest boxes. The eggs roll out of the nest when laid so the hens can't get to them and she now swears by those.

Oh, and be sure it's not squirrels or wild birds. Blue Jays LOVE eggs and in the Bay Area, people have a terrible time with Blue Jays taking the eggs. Or at least starting the pecking.

 

[eggoland]

We have struggled with an egg eater this past year (I caught her red handed eating her own that she laid out of the coop, the little stinker, with yolk all over her beak). I bought 2 dozen ceramic eggs from McMurray's Hatchery (tried plastic ones, but they were too lightweight and got dragged out of the nest boxes too easily, and shopping around McM had the best price on ceramics). Watched her saunter into the coop, over to the nest box, and start pecking like she knew that was where to find snacks. Hurt her little beak, and I don't feel bad! She left without getting any snack.

Since we put those in there, I just pick up eggs once a day or every other day, and no instance of eating. I thought about trying golf balls, but I wanted them to look really similar to real eggs so she wouldn't learn to visually tell the difference. Hoping she doesn't get smart and go by smell, lol! So far, so good.

I just started feeding their shells back to them again after not bothering for a few years, just in case, to hopefully stave off any need she has to try harder to find the "prize" in the pile of fakes.

I have always thought that the eggs need to be checked at the VERY minimum once a day. I think the longer you leave them in there the more tempted they will be to go back to old habits of eating them.

 

[Ladycatpurrs]

Hi,

I was having the same problem with my Jubilees. They have oyster shell access at all times and get a mixture of laying pellets, crumbles, poultry conditioner and showbird food as well as fresh fruits and veggies plus they are on grass so I wasn't dealing with a dietary issue. They had entertainment, nutrition and no old egg eating hen showing them the ropes as they were all new layers. I watched and it was my rooster calling the hens, telling them that my precious hatching eggs were magically delicious! I kept repeating my mantra (I am a vegetarian, don't eat the naughty ones, I am a vegetarian, don't eat the naughty ones) and bought ceramic eggs from Premier1. So realistic I had to mark them to keep them from getting put into my basket. I got them in the evening and was so excited to put them in the pen the next day. (Imagine horns growing from my head and an evil grin on my face) I scattered a dozen fake eggs all around and let them out of the coop. Oh, what fun! What Joy! All those eggs to impress the hens with....I now have zero egg eating and a memory of the confused rooster banging his beak against the ceramic eggs!