New hens eating others' eggs

[sheepchase]

I had a flock of 10 hens and 2 roos. They're still fairly young 8-9 months old. They free range in the back yard with about an acre and have a coop that's about 20x15 and 10tall with roosts, food, and nesting boxes. They only really stay in at night and to lay and munch. I got 4 three year old hens from someone that couldn't have them anymore. They were in a tiny prefab coop before. They seemed to integrate well after their separation period. A few squabbles, but to be expected. The new ones don't like to be out as much as my other ones, but it's only been a month, and theyre not used to it. They can stay inside for all I care. The problem is that at least one of the new birds will peck at or eat the eggs from the old ones. I'm seeing q free less eggs a day, and one of them clearly had yolk on her.
How do I stop this? We are doing a new setup in May to accommodate some more birds. I am planning on having the nesting boxes a little more separate from the "living room" in the new setup.

 

[sourland]

Separate or get rid of the egg eaters before they teach your entire flock to eat eggs.

 

[nuthatched]

How were they introduced? What is their diet? You can blow out some eggs and fill then with yellow dish soap so when they open one, it will be full of nasty soap.

 

[sheepchase]

They have all flock , grit, and oyster shells always available, and soldier fly grubs as a treat when I need to gather them up when the dogs go out (twice a day). They were introduced first by sight. I had them in a prefab coop during quarantine they could see far away. I moved the coop for a week to where they could interact, but not touch after a few weeks. Then we introduced around dusk. They pecked a bit, then everyone went inside and settled down for the night.
I'll have to try the soap. I'd love to see her face!

 

[sheepchase]

Separate or get rid of the egg eaters before they teach your entire flock to eat eggs.

I'm not sure I have that option right now. It's going to be a few weeks before we are able to move them into the bigger building we're repairing for them

 

[sheepchase]

Good news. Apparently they had figured a way out of the yard and we're laying eggs in their old little coop I use for quarantine and introductions. I was quite surprised to find 20 eggs out there while I was cleaning

 

[Mrs. K]

haha - whenever I have had a sudden drop in eggs, it has always been a hidden nest. Goofy birds.

 

[lexilewis2001]

I am having this issue now although I really need help as it's been months. I've been in and out of hospice, and over that time my mom handled my chickens and they developed this. I am trying everything, even filling fake eggs with mustard. It is my entire flock and they camp out in the coop, wait until an egg is dropped, and attack. i also added some flock blocks and additional change of diet. Today is my first day, but has anyone been able to win this battle with a whole flock? I will be making my own thread about this to gather more attention as well.