Hens eating frozen eggs

[humphrey farms]

The temps are below zero. I collect 2-3 times a day. No heat source in coop but plenty of hay, shavings, shredded newspaper. When the eggs freeze & crack I use a brick or a hoe to chop them open on the snow for the hens. I wont sell them because of bacteria or eat them ourselves. LATELY some off the hens have been eating eggs without my interference. Not always frozen. On nice days (18-25 degrees at noon) they do come out of the coop and scratch around in hay bales I laid on the snow in front of the coop.
My question: Are they bored? or just plain hungry? They are being fed: Flock Raiser, BOSS, corn, house scraps, and reduced priced collard greens , tomatoes, lettuce, from the grocery store. They don't eat eggs during the spring through late fall. We are having a long hard winter. Any suggestions? will the habit continue during the rest of the year now??? Thank you.

 

[HEChicken]

They are eating them because they are yummy. Unfortunately, hens who have learned that eggs are yummy can rarely be deterred. If you do a search on the forum for roll away nest boxes, that is one option - the idea is that the egg rolls away as soon as it is laid, into a trough that is inaccessible to the birds and therefore they don't have access to them to eat them. Otherwise, the usual recommendation is to cull the culprits.

I do also feed eggs back to the flock occasionally, but cracking them open in front of them may have been a mistake. Usually I carry them up to the house, break them open in a bowl and then return them as a "treat". That way they don't seem to make the connection.

 

[humphrey farms]

They are eating them because they are yummy. Unfortunately, hens who have learned that eggs are yummy can rarely be deterred. If you do a search on the forum for roll away nest boxes, that is one option - the idea is that the egg rolls away as soon as it is laid, into a trough that is inaccessible to the birds and therefore they don't have access to them to eat them. Otherwise, the usual recommendation is to cull the culprits.

I do also feed eggs back to the flock occasionally, but cracking them open in front of them may have been a mistake. Usually I carry them up to the house, break them open in a bowl and then return them as a "treat". That way they don't seem to make the connection.

Thank you. I know two of the culprits because of their legs bands. I think I will wait until spring and see what happens. If the behavior continues then into the soup pot with them but right now one is a pullet and young. The other always a good layer is taking her winter break. They are pastured free ranging hens(22) and usually only spend enough time in the coop laying. lets hope!!!