Help with egg eating!

[Weeg]

Hello, every one, I am having a particularly annoying problem with my idiotic chickens and her egg eating habits! I have had egg eating problems for months now, First it was one chicken who we were trying to capture in the act so we could deal with it. I would come to pick up eggs in the morning, and the shells would be discarded, the whites would have made a mess of the shavings with the rest of the innards gone. I feed plenty of calcium so I know they aren't eating the shell for that matter and I have tried some may other options! One for a week I put in easter eggs to see if they would give up that way, but i don't think it helped, honestly I may have influenced the egg eating because one chicken saw me open the egg box and put the easter egg in, so she when and started pecking at it. Then the whole flock followed and every one was pecking at the easer eggs. I don't know if this is because they were all eating eggs in the first place, or if they thought I was giving them food. After that I tried the mustard egg trick but they ate all the mustard out of the eggs and seemed to like it! After that, I tried roll away nesting boxes with paint trays, but the trays just broke, and the shavings would never stay in place, they would just slide down the tray so when the egg rolled away, it didn't roll out of site, and still got eaten. Then I stopped using shavings but no one would us the nesting boxes because it was so uncomfortable, and I wouldn't blame them. Finally, I would just go out earlier to get the eggs before they could eat them. This seemed to work for a while, and I though if I got them before they could eat them, I could break the habit. But sure enough, I left for vacation and when I returned, my care taker hadn't taken the eggs early enough, and the shavings and were a mess, and it was an egg massacre! Now they have figured out how early I come out, and will eat them earlier or right as I am coming out get the eggs. Is there something I should be feeding that I am depriving them of, is there a better way to beak the habit? I have five ducks who all lay an egg a day to honestly without the chickens I have way to many eggs already, but the egg eating is SUCH A MESS, and super annoying! Anyone got any ideas on things that have helped with this? I am desperate at this point! Thanks Avery

 

[Acre4Me]

Sorry -it’s really a messy and daily problem.

I went online and bought a lot of fake wooden eggs (they are painted, but that’s not necessary). Each nest box has 3 fake eggs. They are solid and resist the pecking well. This has helped our egg eating problem bc they are rarely rewarded with an actual egg. We collect several times a day when possible. We still get the occasional eaten egg, but it’s uncommon, and possibly due to when an egg accidentally gets cracked.

we feed a 20% all flock with oyster shell and grit on the side. So, protein content is a bit higher than layer. I find my flock of large standard breeds does better on this higher protein. treats are limited, or they get a treat of wet feed.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Are they getting enough protein? Yolk has the most protein I think, and it sounds like that's mostly what's being eaten. Usually I get egg eaters when they're not getting enough protein or calcium

 

[Weeg]

I tried using the fake eggs and they really didn't care, I found them pecking them but they never stopped and eventually one of the fake eggs disappeared with no change to the egg eating. What should I add to there diet to up the protein? We feed organic layer feed. I don't have ingredients, but do you have nay ideas of supplements I could use?

 

[Folly's place]

Are you sure it's your hens doing this? Could you have rats or a snake out there?
Diet matters; most layer diets are about 16% protein, meant for small breed laying hens in confinement, and eating nothing else.
Consider using an all-flock feed that's 20% protein, with oyster shell on the side, and seriously limit most treats.
Are the egg shells very fragile, or solid? Having thin shelled, easily broken eggs will encourage egg eating too. They will all eat any broken eggs!
Mary

 

[Weeg]

Yes, I am sure the chickens are eating them, I have caught them in the act several times, but in this case I almost wish it was a predator rather then the hens. I do feed oyster shells, but My hens are idiotic and don't know what's good for them so the completely avoid the oyster shells, and I have to mix it well into there feed. But most of time the shells are fairly solid. I also came out to the coop today, and heard hem cracking open an egg as I walked out. I opened the egg door and they looked at me like they knew what they were doing wrong, then looked back at egg, and back at me! They are defiantly the ones cracking and eating the eggs, I do feed table scraps though, and have never had any issues with it. I've heard its not good for them, but have never had any problems. Is there things I should avoid in the table scraps? Thanks Avery

 

[Folly's place]

Adding more oyster shell by mixing it into a layer feed is not a good idea! And then what table scraps are they getting?
You do have a problem out there now!
Mary

 

[Weeg]

Hey mostly get vegetable ends and some times our left overs, but mostly just parts of vegetables we don't eat. Do you think the table scrap are causing the problem? And if my chickens won't eat the oyster shells I add in a dish in the coop, then how do I get hem calcium? They lay soft shell and no shell eggs if I don't mix it in, is there a better way? Thanks, and how would I add extra protein to the diet if that is a problem?

 

[Weeg]

I have a lot to learn, any feedback is welcome. Thanks, Avery!

 

[Weeg]

@JacinLarkwell @Folly's place @Acre4Me