OUR GIRLS ARE EATING THEIR EGGS....

[gecklersgirls]

So we r new to this and the last few weeks we noticed a couple eggs have been cracked & eaten... we know its the girls because the coop is critter proofed. I really dont wamt to cull any of them. My kids r attached cause they r fun loving girls who dont mind being held & cuddled. Any suggestions???????

 

[liz9910]

from California! Is there any way to pick up the eggs right after they're laid? Or, I've heard of a nest box that has an incline where the egg rolls away from the hen so she can't reach it. Sometimes they eat the eggs due to a calcium deficiency which can be solved with the addition of oyster shells to their diet. Hope I helped, good luck.

 

[gecklersgirls]

Well they r pretty spoiled I mix oyster shells with the food, & They get yogurt & oats & veggies & all kinds of treats. So i dont know? We chk for eggs 3 times a day morning afternoon & night. But i like the idea of the slantewd nesters!!! Cool!!!

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC!! Here's some tips for breaking your girls egg eating habit:

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

Good luck!

 

[Red Barn Farms]

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. so glad to have you aboard. Good luck.

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[CayugaLover]

welcome to BYC! you can put curtains around their nesting boxes. they can't peck what they can't see... you can also buy sunglasses for that sort of thing.

 

[Eggcessive]

This sometimes happens when you have a bunch of pullets and young roos hanging out in the coop during the day. I am going through the same thing while my 1 1/2 yr olds are laying eggs, the 3-5 month olds are running around being nosey looking in the nest boxes, pecking, and when they break an egg find out it's pretty good to eat. I am in and out of there all day long, and they still manage to get 1 or 2 a day. Hopefully they won't make this a habit, and I think a couple of mine did this last year, so when they are laying themselves soon, they will quit doing this. However, it can catch on and become contagious, so just make sure you feed a good 16-20 % protein feed (not just scratch) and give them crushed oyster shell or cruched eggshells on the side for calcium. Layer feed does the same, but I don't use it if I Ihave chicks still running around.

 

[redsoxs]

Welcome to BYC! Sorry to hear about your egg eaters! Best of luck to you!