Persistent Egg Eater(s)! I've tried everything.

[BlackSpur]

I believe my flock has developed the obsessive habit of eating eggs. We rarely even get 1 a day anymore because they're totally eaten, not but only a spec of shell as a ghost.

I have 9 chickens aged 2 years to 11 months, 7 hens and 2 roos. They live in a two story 16x16' fully secured coop (converted old hunting dog house with multiple runs) with an additional 10x20 run. Multiple feeders of nutrena feather fixer feed with multiple locations of constant supply of oyster shell. Lots of fresh clean water, only fed small amounts of healthy treats, enrichment, good health. (They even see a vet!). There's no fighting at all amongst any of them, including the roos. No one is over bred...just happy birds.

There's 8 nesting boxes of a few varieties to meet everyone's taste, including ones with a d without curtains and roll away ones, multiple levels for ground vs higher roosting, different bedding styles, you name it. These girls are spoiled and want for nothing.

However they (can't identify who, even with cameras) won't stop eating eggs. I've tried the mustard eggs, wasabi eggs, fake eggs (they actually broke 2 ceramics from pecking so much and the wooden ones are filled with holes now too), roll away boxes that they still reach their eggs through somehow, 4 time a day collection, adding even MORE calcium and protein... Nothing. I'm at my wits end!

What is the solution here or is it just a habit at this point?

 

[MysteryChicken]

I believe my flock has developed the obsessive habit of eating eggs. We rarely even get 1 a day anymore because they're totally eaten, not but only a spec of shell as a ghost.

I have 9 chickens aged 2 years to 11 months, 7 hens and 2 roos. They live in a two story 16x16' fully secured coop (converted old hunting dog house with multiple runs) with an additional 10x20 run. Multiple feeders of nutrena feather fixer feed with multiple locations of constant supply of oyster shell. Lots of fresh clean water, only fed small amounts of healthy treats, enrichment, good health. (They even see a vet!). There's no fighting at all amongst any of them, including the roos. No one is over bred...just happy birds.

There's 8 nesting boxes of a few varieties to meet everyone's taste, including ones with a d without curtains and roll away ones, multiple levels for ground vs higher roosting, different bedding styles, you name it. These girls are spoiled and want for nothing.

However they (can't identify who, even with cameras) won't stop eating eggs. I've tried the mustard eggs, wasabi eggs, fake eggs (they actually broke 2 ceramics from pecking so much and the wooden ones are filled with holes now too), roll away boxes that they still reach their eggs through somehow, 4 time a day collection, adding even MORE calcium and protein... Nothing. I'm at my wits end!

What is the solution here or is it just a habit at this point?

You could put a camera into the coop to identify the culprit. Best way I've broken egg eaters is with Pinless Peepers. I make them wear 'em for about 2 weeks, then try without them on. If they continue, they get the Peepers abit longer. But they usually break after 2 weeks.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I believe my flock has developed the obsessive habit of eating eggs. We rarely even get 1 a day anymore because they're totally eaten, not but only a spec of shell as a ghost.

I have 9 chickens aged 2 years to 11 months, 7 hens and 2 roos. They live in a two story 16x16' fully secured coop (converted old hunting dog house with multiple runs) with an additional 10x20 run. Multiple feeders of nutrena feather fixer feed with multiple locations of constant supply of oyster shell. Lots of fresh clean water, only fed small amounts of healthy treats, enrichment, good health. (They even see a vet!). There's no fighting at all amongst any of them, including the roos. No one is over bred...just happy birds.

There's 8 nesting boxes of a few varieties to meet everyone's taste, including ones with a d without curtains and roll away ones, multiple levels for ground vs higher roosting, different bedding styles, you name it. These girls are spoiled and want for nothing.

However they (can't identify who, even with cameras) won't stop eating eggs. I've tried the mustard eggs, wasabi eggs, fake eggs (they actually broke 2 ceramics from pecking so much and the wooden ones are filled with holes now too), roll away boxes that they still reach their eggs through somehow, 4 time a day collection, adding even MORE calcium and protein... Nothing. I'm at my wits end!

What is the solution here or is it just a habit at this point?

One thing I think maybe the problem, which you could try as well, is upping the protein up from 18% to 20%.

They do not need extra calcium, just their usual. Too much calcium can actually be harmful, or cause excess calcium on, or in eggs.

 

[BlackSpur]

One thing I think maybe the problem, which you could try as well, is upping the protein up from 18% to 20%.

They do not need extra calcium, just their usual. Too much calcium can actually be harmful, or cause excess calcium on, or in eggs.

The feather fixer is a 20% they oyster shell is free choice so hopefully they're regulating themselves but I know with my roosters especially the calcium can be a problem so I try and keep an eye on them.

I appreciate the suggestions though!

 

[BlackSpur]

You could put a camera into the coop to identify the culprit. Best way I've broken egg eaters is with Pinless Peepers. I make them wear 'em for about 2 weeks, then try without them on. If they continue, they get the Peepers abit longer. But they usually break after 2 weeks.

We've tried cameras but it almost appears like multiple are doing it, and they're all ayam cemanis so hard to tell apart haha

Will certainly look into the peepers! Thank you!

 

[MysteryChicken]

The feather fixer is a 20% they oyster shell is free choice so hopefully they're regulating themselves but I know with my roosters especially the calcium can be a problem so I try and keep an eye on them.

I appreciate the suggestions though!

Roosters won't really eat oyster shells. It's high calcium feed(Layer Feed), that roosters shouldn't be fed.

Okay. Our feather fixer of the same brand is 18% in our store.

I have all my birds on 20% Chick Starter Grower feed which has animal protein in it.

 

[MysteryChicken]

We've tried cameras but it almost appears like multiple are doing it, and they're all ayam cemanis so hard to tell apart haha

Will certainly look into the peepers! Thank you!

Put colored leg bands on the Ayam Cemanis so you can identify them easier?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

We've tried cameras but it almost appears like multiple are doing it, and they're all ayam cemanis so hard to tell apart haha

How about ... putting those wing bands on your birds in different colors and/or different combos of colors, to make them identifiable? And as soon as you see egg eating going on on-camera, run out there and yell at them! I don't know if this would wotk on anybody else's birds but it sure worked on my two little criminals when I caught them in the act! I was so surprised I hollered, "What are you guys doing!?" and one bird flew out the door past my knees and the other one ran circles around the hen house, flapping in a panic, yelling, "Help! Help!" before she finally stumbled out the door. And they never did it again! One of them was my dear sweet Raven, a Prairie Bluebell Egger, I think that was why I was so shocked, lol.