Hens eating eggs! Running out of ideas!

[jckrasch]

Hi guys,

Two of my four hens have been eating eggs for the past few months. Some days no eggs at all, some days we get all four. We try to get the eggs as soon as possible, but often difficult because we work all day. Mustard doesn't work, if fact they enjoy eating mustard. Golf ball doesn't work either. We put in curtains in front of the nesting box too. We even made the nesting box slanting down so when they lay the eggs roll to the end that's covered and they can't get to it. The new nesting box seemed to help, occasionally we get eggs with a little hole from it but still intact. The two crazy hens eat about 30-40% of the eggs now. The trouble comes when sometimes the chickens lay in the coop.

I'm so frustrated and have no idea what else to try to break this nasty habit. (Culling is not an option). Any ideas??

p.s. the chickens stay inside their coop and run most of the time, they do get 1-2 hours of outside free range time everyday. They have unlimited access to food, water, and grits.

Thank you!!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I understand but in extreme cases, culling may be the only option. They'll teach others how good they taste.

My best advice is to fill the nest with fake wood or ceramic eggs and even some of the plastic easter eggs that you can open. Fill them with sand. They may get deterred by not being able to open any except the ones with sand.
That has worked for me in the past. Haven't had to cull any.
It usually starts when an egg is accidentally broken or several with thin shells.

The other option is to build or buy roll away nests.

http://www.southernagrarian.com/building-a-roll-away-nest-box/

https://www.meyerhatchery.com/productinfo.a5w?prodID=48RL

 

[barkinghills]

I would try adding another 1-2 nest boxes, especially since you mention they are laying out in the coop. Darken the coop as much as possible, even to the point of stapling dark fabric loosely over the windows. Also, can you move feed and water out of the coop to cut down on traffic? They don't need feed or water in the coop if they have access to it in a run or yard during the day.

I have had a number of egg eaters over the last several years, and I do know there is no reforming an established egg eater once she starts. I know you don't want to cull (kill), but would you consider giving away the offenders and starting over with new chicks?

 

[centrarchid]

First ID the offenders by putting a couple eggs out in the open to see who starts pecking around the eggs. Collect the identified offenders and isolate them from balance of the flock. Place them in a pen where either eggs roll out of reach after deposited or the location is very dark. Then make so roughly half feed is a grower ration of some sort to increase protein content markedly. I would even introduce of pepper powder of some sort to feed (possible voodoo here). Collect eggs in this extreme manner for a week or so. Then allow hens to lay in a typical nest to test for consumption of eggs. For me egg consumption ceases and hens can be placed back in with general population.

This problem happens occasionally for my American Dominiques and American Game hens in table-egg production pen where a standard layer ration has a protein content is roughly the minimum required for good egg production under ideal conditions. The backyard with older hens is seldom ideal with respect to many stressors. When the hens are pushed hard with relatively minimal nutrition it increases odds for egg eating. To prevent in general population I feed a little more protein than recommended, especially when hens have been in lay for extended periods.

 

[junebuggena]

Feeding them a higher protein feed might help. Most of the time egger eaters are craving the protein in eggs. Increasing the amount of protein in their feed might help solve the problem. Most layer rations are 16%. Chick starter, grower, and all flock feeds tend to be about 18% to 20%.

 

[jckrasch]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'll try the higher protein feed.

Does it matter where I put the fake eggs? My husband thinks if we put the fake eggs in the coop then the hens will lay in the coop instead of the nesting box. The rollaway nesting box is a good idea except when they don't lay in the nesting box, which has been the problem too.

 

[junebuggena]

It does matter where you put the eggs, because you are basically you're trying to tell them, "Hey, look how many eggs are in here. It must be a good, safe spot." You need to put the fake eggs where you want the real one to be laid.