How to tell if you have an egg eater if you can't be home to watch?

[juliemcummings]

I’m pretty sure I have an egg eater because I have seen a significant drop in the number of eggs I’m getting. The problem is I’m not home during the day to collect the eggs right away. This also means I’m not home to watch and see who is eating the eggs. Any suggestions?

 

[Chicks Galore3]

Well whaddaya know? I am battling egg-eaters too. Look for dried egg yoke on the beak/neck feathers of your chickens. You can blow out an egg and fill it with mustard so the eaters get a nasty surprise, or clean out the shavings of the nesting boxes so when the eater tries to break it open, it will just role away. Try darkening the nesting boxes too. If all else fails, you can buy/make roll-away boxes - the egg rolls down a chute to a collection bin right after it gets laid.