how to stop chickens from eating the eggs!

[Free Feather]

If the shell is still lying about, they may not be eating the eggs for the calcium, but the taste, or the protein. When my hens are getting bare backed from the roosters, or are molting, they want eggs.
I feed my hens their raw eggs all the time, and I rarely see them leave the shell behind. If the shell is always behind, you might want to look into the possibility of a possum or other animal coming in and eating the eggs. They do not eat the shells.

 

[CrazyTalk]

I feed my hens their raw eggs all the time, and I rarely see them leave the shell behind.

Same here - I like to stick eggs in the pocket of my hoodie - and that means every time I bend over and forget there's eggs in there I break a bunch (they fall out) - they tend to eat the whole thing. (and I still don't have any problems with them eating eggs they're not supposed to eat)

 

[Free Feather]

Same here - I like to stick eggs in the pocket of my hoodie - and that means every time I bend over and forget there's eggs in there I break a bunch (they fall out) - they tend to eat the whole thing. (and I still don't have any problems with them eating eggs they're not supposed to eat)

Yeah, mine do not eat their own eggs either. I do not know if it is because they cannot break the shell on their own, or if it is because they do not see it as food until I give it to them.

 

[Leopard Speed]

Hi all,
Please tell me how to keep chiken eating own egg? Please tell me
Plzz

 

[lazy gardener]

Increase their calcium: give free choice oyster shell in addition to their layer feed. Increase protein. IMO, they'll only eat eggs with inferior shells, or if they are missing nutrient in their diet, which leads to inferior shells.

 

[Canchaser76]

How do you figure out which chicken is eating the egg if you never see them do it? Is it more than likely the one laying the egg or a different one? Or could it even be a rooster possibly?

 

[Got eggs]

I was having the same problem and even sold off most of my hens, I was tired of buying feed for what ? Anyway I read that f you hang a curtain in front of the nesting box it could help, really?? Well I took an old vinyl picnic table cloth and stapled it in front of the boxes with a narrow opening (not completely covering opening) it has been 2 weeks today and I've not seen 1 eaten egg, go figure ! I guess as long as the egg is not easy to see they don't eat it. Now I wish I hadn't of sold off most o
f my hens

 

[Little Fuzzy]

My light Brahma hen layed an egg on our patio and it broke and she went crazy after it. Then they all fought over it. I thought to my self " OH OH"! The next day I had a half eaten egg on the floor in the morning. The next day I had two eggs eaten. When I went to pick it up the Brahma went after it again. I suspect her but not sure. The two eggs that were eaten were not the Brahma's eggs. I have fake ceramic eggs in two of the four nesting boxes. I have nine chickens but they only seem to use the boxes where I have the fake eggs. I have a 8mnh old Wyandotte who has now gone Broody. Maybe I need more Boxes? Also do you think that 'Bitter Apple' spray they sell for dogs who chew might work sprayed on an egg and left for the culprit? I would hate to cull the Brahma , she is so cute and gentle.

 

[CrazyTalk]

Increase their calcium: give free choice oyster shell in addition to their layer feed. Increase protein. IMO, they'll only eat eggs with inferior shells, or if they are missing nutrient in their diet, which leads to inferior shells.

Yup. Its almost always nutritional.

All the curtain, roll away nest boxes, mustard, etc, are just ignoring the health problems in your birds. Fix the feed, the problems go away.

 

[AngieBeam]

How do I get rid of most of my birds. I, at one time thought that it was only one or two. I stayed in the hen house for about 40 minutes the other day because these chickens won't brood, so I had to collect the eggs as soon as they were dropped. I watched many chickens go over to the nesting hen and search for an egg. I don't know how to stop them. Today I heard what sounded like a herd of cattle in the hen house and it was the chickens scrambling to get what they could of the egg. I am about ready to start all over with a new batch( clean out the freezer!). I was getting 12 to 18 eggs a day with 29 hens. Now, I only get one or two if I'm lucky.