I caught the Egg Eater

[aart]

Yes, i have heard of that. It sounds crazy, but i have heard it works!

I've read that more often it doesn't work...liquid soap would be more effective.
Both will make a different kind of mess to clean up.

The shell was thin and it was a small egg.

New layers?
Just keep gathering eggs as frequently as possible.

 

[LaFleche]

A different kind of nest box would solve your egg eater problem: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/roll-out-nest-box.58462/

 

[3KillerBs]

Hi Thunder344. I just joined BYC. I am facing the same issue in one of my coops. I'm losing 1 - 3 eggs a day. The solution I am working on, for this problem, is a roll away nest box. I am making it myself, but they do have them for sale online at different sites. Check it out. Maybe it can help.

That's what I was going to suggest.

This is a DIY version: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/roll-out-nest-box-mk3.73816/

They are also available commercially.

 

[MissE]

Mine don't intentionally peck at them to eat them, but if one happens to break, its game on. It could be weak shells causing the eggs to break, and they are just taking advantage of the situation. Maybe increase their calcium intake to strengthen the shells.

If it is intentional breaking and eating, I would suggest roll out boxes.

 

[BGcoop]

I had some luck with adding more fake(ceramic) eggs to the nest boxes, (along with frequent collection). When they peck the fake eggs enough times and are no longer getting the easy reward of tasty egg they generally stop trying.( I have actually heard something similar works for keeping birds from eating strawberries- paint a bunch of rocks red and put them out around the plants before your berries ripen. )

 

[Thunder344]

I had some luck with adding more fake(ceramic) eggs to the nest boxes, (along with frequent collection). When they peck the fake eggs enough times and are no longer getting the easy reward of tasty egg they generally stop trying.( I have actually heard something similar works for keeping birds from eating strawberries- paint a bunch of rocks red and put them out around the plants before your berries ripen. )

Thats a great idea with the strawberries! I actually plan to give them some strawberry plants, this is a great idea!

 

[cedar hill farm]

roll out nesting boxes are the only sure way. they cant eat what they cant get to.

 

[50-45-1]

Once they get a taste for eggs and figure out how to get at that yummy stuff it can be challenging to stop.
First feed oyster shell free choice to help strengthen those egg shells. That's probably how this started.
Try to darken the nest boxes. They cant eat what they cant see.
Put 3 golf balls in each nest box. They may peck at those enough to get discouraged with the idea.
Enlarge the run or add stuff for them to spend time pecking and scratching through. Keep them occupied at something else.
Identify the culprits and use pinless peepers. I have used them and 6 weeks later my hen forgot all about egg eating.
Good luck!

 

[WindingRoad]

Once they get a taste for eggs and figure out how to get at that yummy stuff it can be challenging to stop.
First feed oyster shell free choice to help strengthen those egg shells. That's probably how this started.
Try to darken the nest boxes. They cant eat what they cant see.
Put 3 golf balls in each nest box. They may peck at those enough to get discouraged with the idea.
Enlarge the run or add stuff for them to spend time pecking and scratching through. Keep them occupied at something else.
Identify the culprits and use pinless peepers. I have used them and 6 weeks later my hen forgot all about egg eating.
Good luck!

Curtains helped me. I had a hen who loved to patrol the nest boxes looking for eggs. Curtains helped because she couldn't see the eggs in the top boxes. My hens rarely lay in the bottom boxes.

 

[pvchicken1]

Stopping egg eating is extremly hard to fix. Often homesteader will cull the birds if it keeps going on.