How to stop our chickens from eating the eggs?

[Debbie292d]

I'd also suggest fake eggs and curtains on the nest box

I’ll third this suggestion.

I’ve heard of someone painting the inside of the nest box black, then use dark or black curtains. They can’t see their egg in the dark but they’ll lay in the dark.

Welcome to BYC!

 

[chrissynemetz]

Hello, and welcome to BYC! We're glad you decided to join us!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Golf balls make good fake eggs. When they bonk their beaks on those a few times, they get real careful about pecking eggs. Put several golf balls in each nest, not just one. I like golf balls because you won't be fooled by them (shape and texture) but the hens will be. Good luck!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

And yes, we're glad you joined!

 

[Tookie]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Good luck with those egg eaters!

 

[C Siena]

Why curtains @sourland , @FrostRanger , @Debbie292d ?

We have had 1 egg, eaten, each week for the past 3 weeks. Could be more but I usually notice if their eggs have anything on them, like yolk, wet and I check to see if any yellow. The most I would say is 3-4, that I noticed. The oldest 8 just turned 2yrs and 9 just turned 1yr. This has not happened prior to the past 3 weeks.

We keep golf balls in the boxes.

Changes in the past 3-4 weeks, 21 chicks (2.5-3 months) free ranging with adults all day, with 20% Starter Crumbles, which the adults devour, with 16% layer pellets in the coop ovn, cicada gorging for the past 3 weeks, Minimal treats and not daily, crushed egg shells available, which are devoured after 1-2 (they don't eat them in the morning). I have recently (3 days ago) supplied more crushed shells as I noticed they were gone by 6pm.

I am going to put a cam in the coop when I open it in the morning. I "usually" check on eggs every 2-3 hours. This has happened twice on Sundays, when we are away from 8:45-3 at Holy Mass, an hour+ away. I don't remember the other time, but it could have been another day when I was not home to collect eggs.

As the adults are eating mostly free range (still a few cicadas) and mostly 20% crumbles, I'm thinking the protein is around a good point.

What changes and why curtains?
Also, thoughts on nest boxes on the floor vs 1' high.
Sorry for the long post, maybe I was thinking thesis/dissertation , forgive me.

 

[sourland]

Curtains lower the visibility in the nest box and make it more difficult for the chickens to access the eggs.

 

[C Siena]

Curtains lower the visibility in the nest box and make it more difficult for the chickens to access the eggs.

Couldn't they still peck/eat the eggs, while in the curtained box?
Should I only put curtains on some of the boxes, at first, as they don't like change?

 

[sourland]

Couldn't they still peck/eat the eggs, while in the curtained box?
Should I only put curtains on some of the boxes, at first, as they don't like change?

They can try, but if you make it dark enough they will have problems.

 

[Debbie292d]

Couldn't they still peck/eat the eggs, while in the curtained box?
Should I only put curtains on some of the boxes, at first, as they don't like change?

I've never had the problem so was just going by what I've read how others solved it, and curtains was one of the most popular answers.

I came up with the idea that couldn't they also paint the inside of the nest boxes black? Chickens can't peck the eggs if they can't see them.