I caught one of my chickens eating the eggs!

[chrisod]

I have had my 7 chickens for a little over a year. I really like having them, and enjoy them. This morning, I went to check for eggs and found on of my barred rocks had pecked and eaten two of them. Clean water, plenty of food, free ranging the yard for at least two hours a day, oyster shell. What is wrong? If she keeps it up, she will be chicken dinner (

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Most often egg eating is a happy accident of a broken egg. But it can quickly become an issue. How long has this been going on?

Do you have any fake eggs in the nest to deter curiosity pecks?

Meantime, collect eggs often if you can.

ETA: I'm not above inviting an egg eater to dinner. It's just a last resort usually.

 

[aart]

This morning, I went to check for eggs and found on of my barred rocks had pecked and eaten two of them.

Did you see her doing it?
Were eggs in a nest?
Were the shells good and hard.... or thin or soft?

 

[chrisod]

Did you see her doing it?
Were eggs in a nest?
Were the shells good and hard.... or thin or soft?

Perfectly fine eggs/shells, and, yes, I caught her red handed!

 

[chrisod]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Most often egg eating is a happy accident of a broken egg. But it can quickly become an issue. How long has this been going on?

Do you have any fake eggs in the nest to deter curiosity pecks?

Meantime, collect eggs often if you can.

ETA: I'm not above inviting an egg eater to dinner. It's just a last resort usually.

I do not have the fake eggs, but someone at work yesterday (I work at a vet clinic) suggested golf balls. I think that I can find a few around here.

 

[Chickassan]

She might be about to molt given her age and in need of added protein. This will encourage egg eating too.
Try upping the protein content in their diet with meat, mealworms, cooked eggs or just a higher protein food.

 

[chrisod]

So, I was talking to a client at work who keeps chickens and told her my problem She suggested putting a few golf balls in the nesting area. It worked! I have not had a broken/pecked egg since then. Fingers crossed.