Hens eating eggs! Help!

[TiaRC]

My Hens are breaking and eating their eggs before I can collect them. Is there anyway I can stop them? Is it something they aren't getting?

 

[ChickenAndMore]

All you need to do is take out the eggs and replace them with golf balls. This broke some of my worst egg eaters. You also might want to buy some oyster shells from a local feed store.

 

[teach1rusl]

It's possible that their diet is lacking something...possibly protein. Do you feed regular layer feed? Only use scratch or corn as an infrequent treat? If so, that's good.
Sometimes an egg gets broken accidentally, is eaten, and then the bird(s) learn how tasty they are and intentionally begin destroying/eating them.

I've read of blowing out an egg and filling it with mustard to leave in the nest. Or you could place several wooden eggs in the nests, hoping they'll peck a few and give up. Your best bet though is to collect eggs a few times a day if you're dealing with egg eater. And do spend some time out there on your next off day observing - see who the culprit is...

 

[TiaRC]

Hopefully that will work. I've been unsuccessful on getting them immediately after they are laid. I believe I have a hen that is waiting for one to lay then breaking it right afterward.

 

[TiaRC]

It's possible that their diet is lacking something...possibly protein.  Do you feed regular layer feed?  Only use scratch or corn as an infrequent treat?  If so, that's good.
Sometimes an egg gets broken accidentally, is eaten, and then the bird(s) learn how tasty they are and intentionally begin destroying/eating them. 

I've read of blowing out an egg and filling it with mustard to leave in the nest.  Or you could place several wooden eggs in the nests, hoping they'll peck a few and give up.  Your best bet though is to collect eggs a few times a day if you're dealing with egg eater.  And do spend some time out there on your next off day observing - see who the culprit is...

Yes I may have to wait this one out and see who is doing it. As for their diet. It consists of layer feed and a little bit of start and grow due to them still being very young. They have only been laying for a month those lil devils!

 

[wongone]

I have 4 barred rock and 4 rhode island. I get 4-6 Brown eggs a day (rhode islands) I have only seen a white egg once, and it was when they were out in the yard and a barred rock was eating it. I have kept them in the fenced coop the past month and not once have I seen a white egg. I have put golf balls out. I would think of it was nutritional, all of them would be having problems.

 

[BrendaJ]

I had this problem for the 1st time about 2 yrs ago. I placed fake eggs ( easter eggs ) filled with rocks ( for weight ) & taped closed in the nests. I also collected 2-3 times a day. I keep a dish of oyster shells out in the coop/run area for them to pick at as needed. I also provide more treats for them as well. This fixed the problem for me. Best of luck