I have a bunch of egg eating chickens

[10 pollos]

I need some help. I have 8 RIR that are about 2 1/2 years old. They have always been excellent layers, but for the past few weeks they have been eating the eggs. I've tried fake wood eggs in the box, filling an egg with mustard, oyster shells, ect. Its some sort of frenzy. They eat it shell and all. I dont mind losing an egg here and there, but I havent had eggs in weeks. Is there a way to stop this? Or is it time for chicken soup?

 

[Mudsow]

I have one Barred Rock hen 2 years old, lives indoors about 6 months ago started eating her eggs too. It really ticks a person off. She is in a caged area, and she always layed her egg in one corner, never an issue before. I tried everything. golf balls, more oystershells, different feeds... I gave up. Now 6 months later, with her only laying an egg a few times a week now, they are a more precious commodity. I decided to try ALL the tricks in the book...

A bit of high protein dog food (I feed my dogs EVO, so that has a high protein content, handy, I used that) Powdered milk (happened to have some powdered goat's milk on hand, used that) Fresh bag -o-layer pellets (she is just ONE chicken, my bag's vitamin content may have depleted some in storage) AND what I think to be the best thing. I found a cat house that is perfect chicken size 14"tall 14"deep 22" long. I read that chickens prefer to lay in dark spaces.... never had an issue laying in bright space, but ok... I put a soft towel inside, some straw and the golf balls. then sat and waited.. and waited. Today, I saw her sitting in the corner, so I shoved her in the box ;-) she immediatly sat down and started her "process" of egg makin'. I had to run out for a while and when I came back VOILA there was an UN-Eaten egg in the house.!!! WOO HOO!! Evidently, the theory is that they don't see well in the dark, so once she lays, she leaves the darkness of the house. I guess it makes sense, once she's out, she doesn't see the egg laying there and decide to peck it. SO I'm a happy camper again, I hope this continues. It just shows that YES even after months of egg eating, there is reform!!!

Again, I only have the one chicken, but I think of all the suggestions, the dark nest box did the trick. Try covering your boxes 1/3 of the way with fabric, so the hens can get in and walk back out easily. That may help.
Mudsow

 

[NottinghamChicks]

Quote:
Who's to say that it is the chickens eating them? Perhaps you have snakes, rats,crows, neighbors? If you really think it is the hens build or buy nest boxes where the eggs roll out of reach after laying and increase their protein intake.

Good luck

 

[Mudsow]

Oh, I have on indoor chicken, I KNOW she's the one eating it.

 

[chicken farmer 1997]

it is time for chicken n dumples. i never keep a hen that is over 2 yrs.

 

[krcote]

Quote:
You could build the roll-out egg laying boxes that you can find designs for on here. Or, start your flock over.

 

[Opa]

There is no good way to stop a hen from eating eggs other than keeping the eggs away from her. I have a thread that shows how to build a rear collection rollout nest box. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=287684

 

[DesertChickLover]

A couple of chickens are egg eaters, and it is super annoying! I just try and get out to the nesting boxes whenever I have a spare minute or two and both of the boxes have white "toy food" eggs in them. The toy eggs seem to confuse the chickens.