I have raised me some egg eaters!

[EmmaRainboe]

Higher protein food could help if that is the problem. Chickens will often eat their own eggs if they are not getting enough protein. If higher protein doesn't work then it will be more difficult to fix but can be done.... How it's done... not sure, never had an egg eater

 

[nuthatched]

I like the protein idea. I feel like giving my chickens soap is going to poison them, though.

It won't. Theyll get a bite, realize it's nasty and leave the egg's alone.

 

[Kathy Chenier]

My flock started eating there own eggs, there was yolk all over their little faces and destroyed egg shells. Now I get 0 eggs and can't tell if they eat them or have stopped laying. I have to buy eggs again! Most recent recovered egg had a peck mark in it. We also had a horrific drought this summer and there were no bugs nor grass for them to eat and they got depressed that may be a reason they stopped laying if it is that.

How do I break this habbit or do I resign to my chickens eating their eggs?

I have been told that is a sign they need oyster shells. I like the idea other have of filling eggs with soap or something else that tastes nasty in combination with offering oyster shells.

 

[Folly's place]

What are they eating/ how much space do they have? Are the nest boxes dark or brightly lit?
If there's a diet problem, it needs to be addressed.
How old are your birds?
The roll away nest boxes will be good, also let's hear about their total diet. And finding the instigator would be good too.
mary

 

[Clucking_Caramel]

What are they eating/ how much space do they have? Are the nest boxes dark or brightly lit?
If there's a diet problem, it needs to be addressed.
How old are your birds?
The roll away nest boxes will be good, also let's hear about their total diet. And finding the instigator would be good too.
mary

They eat half cracked corn and half laying pellets. They also free range every other day for an hour. I tried giving them oyster shell but none of them ate it.

Most of them are 2 1/2 years old, and two ladies are 3 1/2 years old.

Also the nesting boxes are kept in the dark

 

[abpatchy]

My young hens found out that they can eat eggs in the beginning. There were some shelless eggs or some dropped on the poop board that broke. I filled their nest boxes with spelt husks (empty). At least 4 inches. What happens is, the egg drops below the husks and is hidden. They don't see it, they don't eat it.

 

[LaFleche]

They eat half cracked corn and half laying pellets. They also free range every other day for an hour. I tried giving them oyster shell but none of them ate it.

Most of them are 2 1/2 years old, and two ladies are 3 1/2 years old.

Also the nesting boxes are kept in the dark

Stop the corn and only feed them the layer pellets. Additionally set out a dish with cracked oyster shells for them to pick from as needed.

Corn should only be fed in very cold temperatures, preferably in the evening as an addition to the layer feed during the day.

 

[Clucking_Caramel]

Stop the corn and only feed them the layer pellets. Additionally set out a dish with cracked oyster shells for them to pick from as needed.

Corn should only be fed in very cold temperatures, preferably in the evening as an addition to the layer feed during the day.

Yes it is Winter here. I give it to them to fatten my girlies up! I have a rooster, would the pellets hurt him?

 

[LaFleche]

Yes it is Winter here. I give it to them to fatten my girlies up! I have a rooster, would the pellets hurt him?

Instead of layer pellets you could use all flock raiser containing less calcium, so the rooster will not be harmed. The oyster shells/other calcium supplement ad libitum is a must.

Not reducing the corn, they will stuff themselves with the cracked corn and leave much of the pellets uneaten, resulting in an unbalanced diet.

I will only feed corn reaching temperatures lower than minus 10C. And only in the evenings just before roosting time when they had their fill with healthy feed.

 

[abpatchy]

Yes it is Winter here. I give it to them to fatten my girlies up! I have a rooster, would the pellets hurt him?

Fat chickens don't lay as well. It would be better for them not to get too much corn.