Help Chickens eating their own eggs!

[shellie003]

Ok i have caught them in the act. It seems to be one Barred Rock leader and the others follow. What happened is we got a new batch of feed from our feed mill we always use and have not had issues with. WELL, when we used our new batch right before Christmas my husband noticed it looked a little different. We feed them layer mash a recipe of our own that we never had problems with previous to this. It was more brown looking. So he filled up their feeder with a 5 gallon pail and the next day we checked and it was everywhere in the run on the floor. So this was a weekend day (Christmas weekend) so I called right away Monday. They said they were making calf feed right before our order and it had molassas in it.

So we thought we try if for a few days and see if it was just that one time. WELL it wasn't by New Years weekend they had started eating eggs. Since then I have taken all of the old feed back and got new stuff. I have fake plastic easter eggs in the boxes that they peck and don't break. This is what I have done to date; I blew out about 8 eggs so far and filled them with; dawn dishsoap (ate those), Yellowish/Brown mustard mixed with Franks hot sauce and dish soap (ate those), Dijon mustard/horseradish, cayeanne pepper and white vinegar (ate those). I gave them a bowl of milk today that they drank all up, put oyster shell in the coop that we never had to use before, gave them a pint jar full of tuna fish today. I give the BOSS all the time. What ELSE can we do!! Darn feed mill!!!

Oh, and I cleaned out all the nesting boxes and even blocked one off that was the worst (had the most broke in) for 2 days... My husband and I are at our wits end. I am going to try and quarantine the leader tomorrow the sassy barred rock and see if that helps... Our ladies are all new this year and this is our first year with them. They were doing SOOOO GOOD! It makes me think that this might not all be worth it. The eggs were just getting to be a really nice size too!!

PLEASE HELP ANYONE!!!

 

[shellie003]

oh and we are checking what feels like a million times a day in 15 degree weather.

Anyone???

 

[Mudsow]

I can understand your frustration, I too all of a sudden have an egg poking chicken. I always have fed oyster shell, but I ran out and cannot seem to find the same brand (that store closed). Ever since then, (a few months now) have had poked eggs. I think I'd feel better if she actually ATE them, but it's just like she's saying THERE, now you can't eat them. pokes a hole and leaves it to drain.

I've tried the golf balls, next we are thinking of building an angled nest box, so the egg will roll out from under her before she can have her way with it!
meanwhile, I'm over loaded in oyster shell until I can find "her" brand. I didn't think I had to pay that much attention, I only have ONE chicken, that 50# bag lasted me a loooong time!
AAARRGGHH I feel your pain.

Mudsow

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

You might try just collecting them every couple hours before they can start in in them, don't leave a bunch in there, which it sounds like you were from your post.

 

[kera!]

maybe get rid of the leader

 

[shellie003]

Well we got rid of the leader. It was such a shame since she was a good sized healthy bird... Had lots of eggs in her too..

So far seems to be working... Oh and we were checking like every hour during laying time. We still will to be sure the problem is irraticated.

 

[@FendiChick]

A week or so ago, I accidentally broke an egg while removing it from the coop. My two girls and one roo jumped on it and started eating right away. I got it out of there as quickly as I could. The girls continued laying eggs normally, and I collected them. Then, this weekend, they layed eggs and tried to (well, did) eat them. Now I can't be home to pick up the egg the minute it is layed, so what am I to do? I am very upset about this, and what I read online all says the same thing. Either pick them up right after they are layed, replace an open one with mustard and hot sauce to discourage more egg eating, put golf balls in or fake eggs and that might break them of the habit. I need to do something and something fast because it also says that the longer than do this, the harder it is to break them of the habit. Does anyone have a solution that is successful? I have two OEGB hens and one roo. I think they are all three eating the egg. Their diet is yogurt, worms, laying crumbles, occasional BOSS and occasional scratch. Thank you! Please help!

 

[Mudsow]

Actually, this solved my problem
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Hammockhouse-Hammock-Style-Cat-Condo-With-Toy/14150176
Not saying that you should run out an buy one, but the concept is, that chickens prefer to lay where it's darker, so they go inside to lay. However, they do not see very well in the dark, so once they lay, they leave. They don't think about going into a dark place for food. They will however eat an egg that's laying for all to see.

Is there a way to hang a towel or something in front of the nest box, or someway to make it so they have to go into it, rather than just jump up onto. They may be less inclined to turn around and eat, they lay and walk out.

Just my suggestion. I tried all the rest of the golf balls, more protein, more calcium, more light.... My chicken is indoors in as 2' x 8' cage. She could easily turn and eat the egg out of boredom, however, with the "house" she is back on track.

Mudsow