Help, entire flock eating eggs!!

[BlueMoon-N-Farm]

I did not realize how bad things were until I noticed yolk on there faces.
They used to free range, but it was causing them to lay in strange places...like the dog house...where the dog would then eat the eggs...
So I locked them in the chicken run for a week and just collected the eggs until I noticed the yolk.
I took an egg, filled it with red die and set it in the coop in hopes of finding the target...
I set it down and before I could close the lid they all swarmed it...
Every single bird attacked that egg like they hadn't eaten for weeks.
Their feeder is filled to the brim with Pulin layer pellet and I just bought some oyster shells in case they are craving calcium.
I filled an egg with mustard and lemon juice...and they just dumped it out and ate the shell...
Culling is not an option for me. I just cant cull my whole flock for a second time...*last time my old flock had really bad health issues, I clulled them all, waited the winter, and bleached/limed everything...*
So, I would like any and all advice on what i can try to do to correct this problem.
They are all laying in the coop again so they are back out free ranging, however the eggs are still getting eaten if I don't stand there and wait for the hen to finish laying.
I am also considering building a catch box so the eggs just drop down and remain untouched. *Any design ideas?* that way no one has to get culled and we still get our eggs.
I'll just have to work something different out for my broodys, and with egg eaters I should probably have them go broody inside anyway.
Any thoughts? Ideas?
Help??

 

[austinbndr28]

I had the same problems for last 2 weeks with a trio of delawares and they have oyster shell and enough protein but it has become a habit for them so i built a single nesting box and put it on an angle so when the hen gets up the egg rolls down towards the bottom which is covered by a piece of wood i just lift up to get the eggs.

 

[blucoondawg]

A roll away nest box is the best bet that way they can't get at them, could try some ceramic eggs in the coop let them peck at them to no end and maybe they'll give up on it. I'd start slowly replacing them if you can't get it cured

 

[austinbndr28]

A roll away nest box is the best bet that way they can't get at them, could try some ceramic eggs in the coop let them peck at them to no end and maybe they'll give up on it. I'd start slowly replacing them if you can't get it cured

I tried the fake eggs and they still would find the real from the fake so roll out nest is really the only option i could find

 

[aart]

How old are birds...are they molting? Might need more protein.

Roll Away Nest Design

 

[BlueMoon-N-Farm]

I had the same problems for last 2 weeks with a trio of delawares and they have oyster shell and enough protein but it has become a habit for them so i built a single nesting box and put it on an angle so when the hen gets up the egg rolls down towards the bottom which is covered by a piece of wood i just lift up to get the eggs.

Do you have any pictures of the box set up?
I think mine are developing a habit of eating eggs also :/

A roll away nest box is the best bet that way they can't get at them, could try some ceramic eggs in the coop let them peck at them to no end and maybe they'll give up on it. I'd start slowly replacing them if you can't get it cured

They figured out which eggs are fake :/ I have a mix of golf balls and ceramic eggs yet they seem to have figured out which eggs are edible and which aren't...
They shouldn't be able to get at the roll away eggs right?

I tried the fake eggs and they still would find the real from the fake so roll out nest is really the only option i could find

Yeah thats my problem to :/

How old are birds...are they molting? Might need more protein.

Roll Away Nest Design

They are a year old in June, and just started laying this spring. No Molting.
Thank you for the nest design! It will help tremendously.

 

[austinbndr28]

Do you have any pictures of the box set up?
I think mine are developing a habit of eating eggs also :/
They figured out which eggs are fake :/ I have a mix of golf balls and ceramic eggs yet they seem to have figured out which eggs are edible and which aren't...
They shouldn't be able to get at the roll away eggs right?

Yeah thats my problem to :/

They are a year old in June, and just started laying this spring. No Molting.
Thank you for the nest design! It will help tremendously.

I will take a picture tomorrow.

 

[BlueMoon-N-Farm]

Well dang...
I slanted the nesting boxes, added a catch box on the outside and now the blasted birds dont like it and are insisting on laying inside the hutch on the floor...

So, experts. Do you think they will figure this one out on there own? Or should I do something different to entice them to lay in the nest??
Any tips? Ideas??
Anything???

 

[aart]

Well dang...
I slanted the nesting boxes, added a catch box on the outside and now the blasted birds dont like it and are insisting on laying inside the hutch on the floor...

So, experts. Do you think they will figure this one out on there own? Or should I do something different to entice them to lay in the nest??
Any tips? Ideas??
Anything???

I'm no expert, never used roll away nets but IIRC you put some nesting material in there and slowly remove it a bit at a time to get them used to the slanted bare nest bottom?

 

[BlueMoon-N-Farm]

I'm no expert, never used roll away nets but IIRC you put some nesting material in there and slowly remove it a bit at a time to get them used to the slanted bare nest bottom?

There's an idea. I'll see if it helps.
Thank you!