OH NO!!! Egg Eater!!!!!

[lolita117]

So I think I have an egg eater! My worst nightmare ever. I think it began when younger (not yet laying) chickens have been scratching around in the nest boxes and have broke eggs and then others realized they could eat them. I need to fix this quick!!!!
I had been getting around 10 eggs by noon each day. I only had 4 today

First question: I don't know who is doing this! I have a flock of 75 (~33 laying, ~21 right at 19 weeks old, and ~21 ten week old.) So lots a babies. I haven't caught anybody in the action and the only ones I ever see in the nest boxes are layers and/or my 2 brooders. How I do a catch them in the action? -Besides be up there 100% of the time. Trail camera is not an option and deer season is approaching and DH is using them and won't let me. Any other things I can do?

Second question: Anyway to stop this? I can't just replace my nest boxes, they are built into the wall. I have wooden eggs in the nest boxes already. I know I can cull, and will consider this if the culprits are just one or two. But my biggest fear is that there may be more than I think.

Any and all suggestions welcome. I need the help. Thanks in advance!

 

[lolita117]

So I read up on other threads about egg eaters. Does putting mustard really work? -I just did it, with 3 eggs. The only mustard I had was Dijon, I diluted it down with just a little water. I put them in the nest box, and sure enough... my worst nightmare 5-6 laying hens and 1 rooster started investigated and started going to town.

They were a little taken back by the mustard but it seemed like them were more interested in the shell than inside part. I feed oyster shell on the side, free choice. Their current food is start/grower crumbles because I have so many different ages in my flock. I plan on going to layer once everybody gets of age.

Anyways just wondering if anybody has ever had an egg eater that actually wasn't put off by the mustard and if there are other things I can try?

 

[lolita117]

So I really think I'm going to have to rebuild my whole nest boxes. I'm going to do a front roll out, but it won't be able to happen for at least a couple of months. The hens didn't seem to deterred about the mustard I use, it's like they just wanted the shells. Anybody know of anything I could put on the exterior of the shell that maybe they wouldn't like to consume?

 

[Den in Penn]

Try soap mixed in. Some birds just don't taste things like we do. Hard decoy eggs may help also.

 

[lolita117]

Try soap mixed in. Some birds just don't taste things like we do. Hard decoy eggs may help also.

I have wooden eggs, and they've actually been in the nest boxes for awhile. I think they truly know the difference now. What kind of soap would be okay? Dawn? And you said mixed in, so just mix it with the mustard and put in the egg?

I hope I can get them to slow down, at least until I can get my new nest boxes built.

 

[Den in Penn]

Dish soap is what most use.

 

[chickenbythesea]

i've used mustard successfully but don't water it down... you want it to be as nasty as you can. I also place the egg with the hole away from them so they'll think it's a new egg. I don't know if that makes a difference but some birds are pretty smart

 

[foulplay]

I had an egg eating problem and I have 100 hens so it is extremely hard to find who. So I just collect the eggs as often as I can and make sure the chickens don't get curios and break one open. Good luck.

 

[lolita117]

I tried to hide the hole, but they didn't care they went to town. I didn't water down too much, but the Dijon in the little glass jar is alot thicker than mustard in the plastic squeeze bottles. It was still pretty thick. But its like they (whoever they are) isn't interested in the inside but rather just the shell. I tried collecting often yesterday and put up one that I suspected (she was peering into the nest boxes like she was looking for a treat). I put her in a storage area of my coop. I was able to collect 17 eggs, but I was going up there almost every hour. Not super feasible every single day. The day before I got 6! I think I'm just going to have to break down and build roll away nest boxes. Hopefully I can get the DH to help me. He doesn't care too much about the chickens or doing anything for them.

 

[foulplay]

that is a great idea to do but will the nest boxes have bedding or would you just make the nest box bottoms out of wire. You could find a cage from factory barns that already have the slope and everything just a little fixing is all you need. Good luck