Help!!!!! Egg Eating!!!!!!!!!!

[lvchicken]

Thank you. I have been doing it as often as possible. If I painted the nest boxes like black or something, would that help?

 

[dsqard]

From what I have read on other threads the mustard trick doesn't usually work. You can try it and see if it does. You pretty much have only two choices IMO. You can make the roll away nests or you have to get rid of the hens that are eating the eggs. As you have already seen, the egg eaters "teach" the other hens to do it as well. Keeping my

for you!
ETA - here is a thread that shows you how to make them: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=3499006#p3499006

 

[KenLamWV]

I went to local craft store and bought wooden eggs that are the same size as the one's they lay. At one time, I removed the wooden eggs from the nests and I eventually had one who was eating eggs. Look for dried yolk on their beaks to find the culprits. Once I placed the wooden eggs in their nests, the egg eating seemed to end. Since the eggs I get are green and brown, the white wooden eggs make it easier to just get the eggs they lay and not have to make a trip back to the coop if I accidentally pick up one. The wooden eggs are usually about a buck a piece and worth every cent that prevents the egg eating in my coop. Good Luck.

 

[lvchicken]

Quote:
Thanks. I need all the

I can get.

 

[white01]

I had this problem but thank god its over, what was happening was they were getting broke in the nest to many trying to use same box, made more boxes and another thing they were bored i think, it was a long winter and now that they are back outside this bad behavior has stopped thank god...I love my chickens and could not cull them all.. I am hoping you find some answers and they stop doing this..

 

[Mama Austranought]

Sorry I tried to give a description of how to do it. I just get a very pointed knife and gently twist it to drill a hole in one end of the shell while supporting the surrounding shell so it doesn't completely crack away. Do this on both ends of the egg making a larger hole on the pointed end. I have found that the insides come out easier that way. Then put your mouth around the small hole on the rounded end of the egg and seal your lips tight and BLOW! It's quite hard to do but once you get the hang of it...The white is the hardest part to get out and the yold will burst and come out very easily. It's a bit like trying to blow up a waterballoon in the way you'd blow up an ordinary balloon!

(A little story: When I used to try to tell my Dad how something should be done properly, I was only very young mind you! He always used to say to me - "Are you trying to teach your Grandmother how to suck eggs?" Well, I feel a bit like that putting posts on here when I have only just signed up - Trying to teach old hands something I have only taught myself!)

I hope the Grandmothers will come forward and teach us how to properly blow eggs/suck eggs! AHEM!

Anyway, maybe the solution could lie in giving them something to harden up the shells? I have had this problem with fragile eggs but not as a habit.

 

[Lollipop]

I`ve got a rooster and 3 pullets that eat eggs. The mustard or hot sauce doesn`t work because birds don`t have the heat receptors of other animals and will eat it right up. I`ve heard that blowing an egg and filling it with dish detergent works, but I haven`t tried it. I went the roll out nest route using ideas from a couple threads here at BYC. Opa is the desiner/builder. I built just one that sits on the ground as It`s only 4 pullets in that pen. The roll out nest is a WINNER and Opas design is easy to build and modify to your needs. Good luck........Pop

 

[CrestedGirl]

you can nail a peice of cloth up on on the nesting boxes and cut it in little strips where it is draping over the enterance, if a hen breaks an egg in a box no hen will see them because of the cloth, that way if it will minimize the spread of other hens eating eggs.

 

[lvchicken]

Quote:
Thanks! What kind of cloth?

When my chickens eat eggs, they jump out of the nest and run around with the shell hanging out of their mouth!

 

[taffy]

My hens are eating eggs as well, I tried the hot sauce route, til I read that they don't taste it. They are also picking each others feathers out, I have separated the 2 breeds, Isa browns, who got picked on and red rock cross's who are aggressive to other breeds apparently. They are all on the same feed, 16% layer, with oyster shell, free range yard and 2 or 3 days a week out in the main fields, plus veggies I bring home from a town vegetable store and bread crusts from a bakery, and still they eat the eggs and pull feathers. I cant get 18% layer where i am. I am going to try the milk supplement for a bit and see what happens.
I collect the eggs as often as i can. Any other suggestions PLEASE.
Thanks.