Hens eating my eggs

[ilovemychickens697]

I have 8 hens, and I know that right now they aren’t laying a lot because of the fluctuating weather, but they keep eating their eggs. Today they laid 4 eggs, and of the 4, they ate 2. Anything I can do about it?

 

[Norma_Lorp]

I have 8 hens, and I know that right now they aren’t laying a lot because of the fluctuating weather, but they keep eating their eggs. Today they laid 4 eggs, and of the 4, they ate 2. Anything I can do about it?

Maybe try to collect them faster and make sure they have food and other things/treats to preoccupy themselves with. I’m not an expert but they could possibly need more calcium and protein in their diet If they are going at the eggs. Just thinking out loud here

 

[ilovemychickens697]

Maybe try to collect them faster and make sure they have food and other things/treats to preoccupy themselves with. I’m not an expert but they could possibly need more calcium and protein in their diet If they are going at the eggs. Just thinking out loud here

That’s what I was thinking, but they are on full feed, get scratch, and have access to calcium all the time.

 

[Norma_Lorp]

That’s what I was thinking, but they are on full feed, get scratch, and have access to calcium all the time.

Beats me! They sound well fed Maybe just boredom? Try more treats couple times a day, few lettuce scraps or whatnot. Worth a try for distraction sake . I feel like my girls have done this a few times, I thought maybe one crushed an egg then proceeded to eat it. Added more shavings to nesting boxes for cushion

 

[rosemarythyme]

Load up your nest boxes with multiple fakes, so they're more likely to hit a fake egg and not get rewarded for their behavior. Or try a roll out nest box.

 

[ilovemychickens697]

Beats me! They sound well fed Maybe just boredom? Try more treats couple times a day, few lettuce scraps or whatnot. Worth a try for distraction sake . I feel like my girls have done this a few times, I thought maybe one crushed an egg then proceeded to eat it. Added more shavings to nesting boxes for cushion

Update: I gave the scratch early this morning, and lettuce late this morning. I have not gotten any eggs today and it looks like there is a wet spot where they are some eggs. This is so frustrating.

 

[aart]

full feed

What exactly is "full feed"?
Brand/formulation and/or link to exact product or protein and calcium percentages.
Gather eggs frequently, replace eggs gathered with fake eggs.

Try more treats couple times a day,

Fewer treats would probably be better.

 

[ilovemychickens697]

What exactly is "full feed"?
Brand/formulation and/or link to exact product or protein and calcium percentages.
Gather eggs frequently, replace eggs gathered with fake eggs.


Fewer treats would probably be better.

We call full feed when the chickens are always offered feed in the feeder. As to share they are eating, they are eating https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/products/detail/purina-layena-pellets

 

[aart]

We call full feed when the chickens are always offered feed in the feeder. As to share they are eating, they are eating https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/products/detail/purina-layena-pellets

Ah, OK.
Probably best to cut treats way down with a 16% feed.
Maybe put out a small separate feeder with Oyster Shell,
if you find the eggs are breaking due to thin shells.