Hen has started egg eating.

[Heffalump]

I've had my hens for about 18 months now, but in the last week or two one has started eating the eggs.

They have plenty of space, food and water. I think technically you can fit about 48 hens in their coop and run, but we have 10. They get out to free range for a few hours before bed too.

What can I do to stop the egg eating? It's making a mess and I don't want the other hens to start doing it too.

Do curtains over the nest boxes help? I had read that if the hen can't see the egg they won't eat the egg. At the moment our nest boxes are open on one side with just a small lip to keep bedding in.

 

[Mvan42]

Check eggs more often if possible, I have read that by putting ceramic eggs in nest boxes helps, when pecking them and no award (egg) they sometimes stop.

 

[GoldpartridgeHen]

Yes, try to remove the eggs as soon as possible. Also, this could catch and if it is allowed to continue, the whole flock can be egg-eaters.
Curtains will help, as the chicken will find it harder to spot the eggs, as will softer nest bedding material (such as wood shavings) because the eggs should sink down through the bedding and hide it from the egg-eater.

Fake eggs will help, try putting a golf ball or something hard (e.g. a rubber egg) to stop it
Hope this helps!

 

[chkva]

Get the eggs as soon as you can... You can also try roll out nesting boxes, I've been looking into them for when I go on vacation because my friend is unable to come get eggs until after work. Try fake eggs in the boxes so that when they peck the fake egg, it doesn't crack and it'll discourage them from trying it to other eggs.

 

[aart]

It's making a mess

It sure does make a mess!
Are you just finding a wet spot or are you finding the shell too?
Thin or soft shelled eggs are easily broken and thus fair game(IMO) for eating.
It can become a habit...but usually the eating of weak shelled eggs does not continue into the breaking and eating of hard shelled eggs.

What are the protein and calcium percentages of your feed?
Are you feeding anything other than the feed and the foraging?

Finding the cause will help determine the right solution.

 

[Heffalump]

I'm finding some shell, but not the whole eggs worth.

It's haygates country layers pellets. 16% protein, I can't find how much calcium anywhere though, it just says added calcium online and on the packaging without stating a figure.

They don't get a lot of snacks or scraps from the kitchen at all. Maybe once or twice a week.

 

[Heffalump]

Thanks. I'm going to stick a few gold balls in there and try and get the eggs collected 3 x a day and see if that helps too.

 

[Henry&Friends]

They don't get a lot of snacks or scraps from the kitchen at all. Maybe once or twice a week.

Unrelated to your question, but if you have neighbors, ask for their scraps as well. Everyone has less waste, and the chickens get snacks!

 

[chrissynemetz]

You've gotten some really good advice here. I wish you luck!

 

[aart]

I'm finding some shell, but not the whole eggs worth.

So are the shells thin and weak.....or thick and hard?