One hen eating own egg...peepers?

[waghmg]

I have this one hen who has started eating her own egg AS SOON as she lays it. The past couple of days I have tried to get out there when she is laying but have gotten distracted by something else by the time she actually lays it. I've tried to isolate her a couple of times but each time seemed to be her "off" day for laying....frustrating. On the days she did lay, which was early in the day, something would come up about the time she laid it so by the time I get out there she is in the middle of eating it!!! The other girls haven't seemed to catch on to it and don't eat their own eggs. However they are VERY interested when I'm cleaning up after the egg eater and peck at the leftovers until I get them removed which is ASAP.

My question is, I've had these pinless peepers that I had ordered when I had hens pecking and injuring another hen. Actually lost that hen so never got to use them. Does anyone think the peepers might help w/the one eating her own egg to keep her from doing it?

Also, I feed them layer feed but no oyster shell and they free range for a couple of hours a day. I've also read from some how black oiled sunflower seeds may help along w/oyster shell. Again, it's only her OWN EGG that she seems to eat.

Please don't suggest culling her. That's not an option for me...though I've seen a few people suggest that's the only way to go, and I understand why some people might choose to do that, just not me.

Any advice is appreciated!!

 

[Angiebubs]

Hi Wag!

I also went through this recently-a barn cat was eating the eggs and some hens were starting to join in. (I have 24 in my flock) I read all I could about this and this is the steps I took (Seems to be working):

Put golf balls in nest boxes-fools them when they try to peck at them.

Added more oyster shell (Which they seem to be going through a lot right now and yet some eggs are showing signs of exsessive calcium-so think its hit and miss with who is really needing it)

And started giving more BOSS.

Something is working! I also am away from the house daily from 7 am till 630 pm and can;t try to gather as soon as they are laid.

One last optionis to buy the rollaway nestboxes so they can't access the eggs--if all else fails (Culling isn't an option fo rme either-these are my pets) Good luck!

 

[waghmg]

Thanks for your reply. Glad you are having some success. I am going to try some BOSS, oyster shells, etc.

Forgot to mention... I am trying the golf balls, easter eggs etc. She seems to notice the difference between her own egg and those so they are not doing any good but I've still got them in there anyway.

Again, anyone with experience on the pinless peepers would be appreciated!

 

[Judy]

Pinless peepers are intended to prevent feather picking and pecking. I've never read of anyone using them for this.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/six-tips-on-breaking-your-egg-eater