Solving the case of the egg eating hen

[Dianne1928]

I have 80 hens. They free range 1/2 acre and locked in 5 10x10 chicken houses at night, Because the coyotes kill any living soul left out over night.

I have had an egg eating hen for 2 years now and I have tried everything! Roll away boxes, feeding more protein, feeding cooked scrambled eggs. A video camera, pulling out my hair, ECT..

None of that works! I tried them all. I know they hate the smell of Lemmon. That won't work though because they wouldn't try eating it after eating it.

I putting the nanny cam back out and trying a new idea. I'm going to try mixing food color to find the culprit and hot sauce so she won't want to do it again. . I am determined to solve this! Stay tuned and suggestions welcome

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

With my hen, Shiloh, oyster shells always helped straighten her out. But by the sounds, you have a hen who's addicted. And who knows, might be several.

I'm slightly confused by some of what you're saying though... If you have time to put hot sauce (that may change the taste of the eggs, for you, too), why not just collect the eggs then, before they're eaten?

 

[Dianne1928]

With my hen, Shiloh, oyster shells always helped straighten her out. But by the sounds, you have a hen who's addicted. And who knows, might be several.

I'm slightly confused by some of what you're saying though... If you have time to put hot sauce (that may change the taste of the eggs, for you, too), why not just collect the eggs then, before they're eaten?

I collect then every couple hours.

 

[Dianne1928]

I give them free choice oyster shell. Their she!Los are really thick and I can see chunks of it mixed in with the shell

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I give them free choice oyster shell. Their she!Los are really thick and I can see chunks of it mixed in with the shell

So I say that your hen(s) are addicted to them. Pinless Peepers I've heard will help stop egg eating, though I've never tried them.

 

[Dianne1928]

I used a syringe to empty the egg and then fill it with my mixture. They are the only ones I am leaving in the nest boxes. They are for the egg thief not for my omelet . if she gets a taste I am hoping she decides they aren't so good.

 

[Dianne1928]

So I say that your hen(s) are addicted to them. Pinless Peepers I've heard will help stop egg eating, though I've never tried them.

Pinless peepers?

 

[Dianne1928]

Pinless peepers?

Oh I looked it up

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I used a syringe to empty the egg and then fill it with my mixture. They are the only ones I am leaving in the nest boxes. They are for the egg thief not for my omelet . if she gets a taste I am hoping she decides they aren't so good.

Well this sounds amazing. Sounds like an ultimate prank.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hot sauce won't do anything to a chicken, as they have no receptors for capsaicin.