Possible egg eater in my flock

[hennybee]

I have a flock of five 2 yr old hens. They have always been low level layers, meaning that at their peak performance I was getting one to two eggs a day, but it’s been months since I had that good production, and for the past month I’m lucky to get one. One day last week I came upon an empty half a shell in the coop. So, I think I’ve got an egg eater. I already have been keeping fake eggs in the two nesting boxes in order to get them to use both boxes (they were fighting over one box). So, I don’t think fake eggs will be my solution here. What can I do?

If I get roll away boxes, what will the process be for getting them to use them outside (in the run) instead of their regular boxes inside of the coop?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Whenever mine did this I would refeed them their egg shells and it would stop. What kind of feed are you using?

 

[nuthatched]

It could be the heat affecting laying.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I agree the heat can cause thin shells. Thin shells break and any chicken will eat a broken egg. From my understanding, an egg eater will eat the whole egg due to nutritional deficiencies. I'd make sure to put some oyster shell out in a separate dish. Egg shells are fine, but it takes more egg shell than oyster shell to fulfill their calcium requirements. Also, you might want to cut back on treats in case it's diluting their nutrition. The calcium benefits from vitamin d as well, so you can supplement with citracal if you figure out which hen is laying the thin shells.
What breed are your hens?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Mine had oyster shell available at all times and would still do this occasionally. I agree it is a nutrition thing

 

[BDutch]

@hennybee , an egg eater can be a chicken , or maybe a rat or a snake?
Are you sure its a chicken who eats the eggs? Camera?

To get a better idea of the we need to know what breed(s) you have and how the live. Most breeds with 2yo chickens should lay more eggs than a few each week as you say. So maybe it is a food thing way from the start.
But it can be something else too.

Where do you live? Whats the temp?
What do you feed them? How much protein, calcium , other ingredients? Did you ever try another brand?
Could it be stress related that they don’t lay much?
How big is their coop and run? Do they have access to herbs and grasses? a compost pile? Sun and shade? A sandbath? Did you ever check on parasites?

It might help if you can let them free range 1-2 hours before roost time. Supervised if the predator is very high where you live.