my chickens keep eating their eggs

[jgniewek]

does anyone have any suggestions on what we can do to stop our chickens from eating their eggs, my husband treats them like queens and they get a variety of food (costs a fortune) and they lay lots of eggs but if we don't collect them quick enough they peck at the shell and eat them.

I'm open for any suggestions!!

 

[Mahonri]

FIRST OFF,

WELCOME TO BYC!

So glad you are here.

Now hopefully you will get more than just my perspective... and others here will chime in.

I come from the view:

Once an egg eater, always an egg eater.

There are those here who will tell you to put various things inside eggs to stop them, things chickens detest, but usually it's only a short term cure. Once they have that learned behavior, you almost have to start over with new pullets who don't eat their eggs.

 

[Highlander]

Something like this should help you. Opa is the master of rollout nest boxes!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=287684

 

[Slywoody]

Another option is a nest set-up with a slanted floor where the eggs will roll to a protected area. I'm no good at pics. Maybe someone will chime in with a nice pic of what i'm trying to say.

 

[popcornpuppy]

I am not trying to hyjack this thread, but I have the same question as the OP, and a few more. We found an egg eater today, caught her in the act. I have heard they need to be culled because this behavior can spread faster than disease, I have heard to put golf balls in the nest, I have heard to trim their beaks, don't trim their beaks, etc.

If they get time to free range, and are not bored, they get oyster shell and 16% protien layer pellets, scraps of leftovers, enough (or more than enough) nesting boxes......
What is the best solution? I hope my questions will give the OP some answers as well.

 

[Mule Chick]

I had that problem a few years ago. I put the ceramic eggs in the nest and it seemed to fix it. I tried to also be pretty regular about collecting as well.

 

[floridamel]

Mule Chick - I know this thread is a little old, but I am wondering if you can tell me where you got the ceramic eggs? Our chickens ate their eggs for the first time yesterday

 

[smk2010]

When they eat their eggs do they usually eat the entire egg? I usually get 4-6 eggs a day and am down to 1-3 eggs a day. We can only check and collect when we return home from work after 5 pm so by then any evidence is gone.

If the ceramic eggs work please tell

 

[floridamel]

smk - we discovered that our chickens ate yesterday's eggs. It's the first time it's happened for us (they are about 8 months old). They ate the (2) eggs but left most of the shells. I am thinking of trying ceramic eggs. Someone suggested that it may be a rat and not the chickens, but I'm not sure how to figure out who it is.

 

[smk2010]

It would sure be nice to know if it is the chickens or the rodents. At least that way we could take action...trap the mice/rats at night... If i keep losing eggs i might try the ceramic eggs myself. I have no trace of the eggs being eaten...no shell or yoke mess. Just less eggs