Mustard in Egg

[cmom]

Mybe try golf balls or fake eggs.

 

[Kezzie]

There's a product called Bitter Apple that they use on cats and dogs when training them not to chew on things. Maybe try that...

 

[rufus]

Search for the roll away nest on this site. The nest box is tilted just enough that the egg rolls away under a false back of the nest. If they cannot reach the egg, they cannot eat it.

You might try putting golf balls, fake eggs, old light bulbs and just about anything else round and the right size in the nest. They peck on enough junk, they will get frustrated and quit.

Make sure your chickens are getting enough greens; they love weeds and grass. Also, make sure they have plenty of oyster shell.

Are they over crowded?

Solve these problems first.

Rufus

 

[shelleyd2008]

Golf balls might work, if they peck them (it hurts!!) it might deter them from pecking their eggs.

What type of enclosure are they in? When I first got my bantam cochins, I was just about to get rid of them. As soon as they would lay an egg, they would eat it. But, they were in a rabbit cage, about 2 1/2 x 3. There were 2 hens and a roo. I finally was able to move them to a 3 x 8 chicken tractor and haven't had the problem since.

Hot things won't bother the chickens at all, I don't know about sour. One thing that can be used to worm your chickens (or as a preventative against worms) is cayenne pepper, if that tells you anything

 

[MIKE555444]

I think the golf ball/wooden eggs might be the right way to go... in fact you might put several of them around to show them that "eggs" are not something that can be ate. Then try to collect them as quickly as possible. At the least it may confuse them on which ones to eat and you might start getting them before it's to late.

Good Luck!

 

[MissCluck]

I've been having the occasional egg attacked too. I did the mustard-in-egg thing and it seemed to work, although they did eat the entire thing!

Because of an opportunistic hawk I've been leaving the girls in their covered run more these days and find that if they don't get out as they want to - to free range in the back yard - they will be "naughty".

I increased the oyster shell and also the scratch grains and made sure they were getting their layer feed properly.

I may have to just risk hawk attack and have them out in the yard as they want....if I want to have happy chickens.

 

[norcal]

Thanks for the input.

I have golf balls & fake eggs in the nest. They have plenty of room. 8x8 coop & large run for 8 chickens. They just started getting oyster shell (only one is laying so far).

Will pick up some scratch. And what kind of greens are you talking about, I've never heard that chickens need greens??

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
You can just give them grass cuttings from the yard, it doesn't have to be anything special.

 

[norcal]

We're in dry RURAL California, no grass clippings here, have to save the water for the garden. I occasionally give them alfalfa (the goats stuff), is that too dry to be considered a green?

 

[cat]

fill an egg with soap, they do not like the taste of that one bit.

I tried hot sauce, pepper, mustard.. they acted like it was a salad dressing!

If the soap doesn't work eat the chickens withthe mustard and buy new ones!