Hen eating eggs

[meganB1]

Hi

Unfortunately one of our hens has started to eat the eggs. Im unsure why this has started but does it mean we should get rid of her or is there a way to stop her doing this?

Megan

 

[chicmom]

Here's a few things to try.....Make your nest box area darker by hanging a curtain in front of the boxes, making the eggs less noticeable.

Also, some people will poke a hole in some eggs, blow out the yolk/white, and then fill that egg with hot mustard or dish soap. When the guilty hen cracks open the egg, "YUCK!" She might not try that again.

Or, put some fake eggs or golf balls in the nesting boxes. The hen will try and break those and find they're just too hard. Then she might give up trying to eat the eggs.

And of course, collect those eggs more often, if you can.

 

[meganB1]

Hi

Thanks very much for your suggestions. I was thinking about putting something in an empty egg yesterday so will give it a go. Do not really want to see the hen go but she has been a bit of a problem lately. Not a young hen at all but has, over the last few months started pulling feathers out of all the other hens' necks and then eats the feathers. Silly other hens let her but are getting bald!!

Will try a few things over the next week and see how we go

Cheers

 

[aart]

What are you feeding her? Eating eggs and feather is often a sign of the need for protein.
If you're only feeding layer mix(usually around 16% protein), try giving her some meat scraps or a higher protein feed.

I feed flock raiser(20%) and offer oyster and crushed egg shells in a separate container.
This also offsets the low protein in the scratch and veggie scraps I like to feed.

 

[meganB1]

Thanks for the suggestion. Yes the hens get layer pellets, but also corn in the afternoons. I will try with a little protein for her to see what happens as this behaviour isnt nice to watch and I wasnt sure why only she was behaving this way if there was a lacking in the diet.

Will certainly try
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