Teaching chickens to be cannibals

[Fencefixer]

We have our granddaughters visiting this weekend and they love to spend time with our flock of various breeds of chickens- 15 total. I was just informed by the oldest granddaughter that the youngest was experimenting with newly laid eggs by seeing what the chickens would do with them. Alarm bells went off in my head so I hurried out to see what was up, and sure enough; there were 8 to 10 chickens out in the middle of the pasture eating an egg. I firmly explained to the youngest that she had just introduced a new delicacy to my chickens and that I may soon expect to see broken, messy egg yolk on the next eggs that I gather.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Probably not. While admittedly, it is not a good idea, an occasional broken, eaten egg does not mean they'll all become egg eaters.

Likely as long as they have calcium and protein layer feed, they'll be fine.

Just gather eggs daily.

LofMc

 

[JacinLarkwell]

We have our granddaughters visiting this weekend and they love to spend time with our flock of various breeds of chickens- 15 total. I was just informed by the oldest granddaughter that the youngest was experimenting with newly laid eggs by seeing what the chickens would do with them. Alarm bells went off in my head so I hurried out to see what was up, and sure enough; there were 8 to 10 chickens out in the middle of the pasture eating an egg. I firmly explained to the youngest that she had just introduced a new delicacy to my chickens and that I may soon expect to see broken, messy egg yolk on the next eggs that I gather.

Ehh, I wouldn't worry too much depending on how she broke the egg. They're opportunists, so they're going to eat any eggs that happen to crack one way or another

 

[nuthatched]

It's not cannibalism, necessarily.
blow out a few eggs and fill with yellow dish soap so if they try to eat it they'll just get nasty soap.

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Welcome to the community!

I wouldn't worry. Sometimes I drop eggs and my chickens love to eat them! But they don't eat their eggs after they've laid them. Eggs make a fantastic treat, but you can cook them so your chickens are less likely to make the connection to their own eggs. If you chickens do start eating their own eggs, you can blow out a few eggshells and fill them with garlic or soap (like @nuthatched said) and it should deter them

If you ever need any help navigating around here or you just wanna chat, drop me a PM or a message on my profile!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Generally one broken egg does not an 'egg eater' make.

 

[Fencefixer]

It's not cannibalism, necessarily.
blow out a few eggs and fill with yellow dish soap so if they try to eat it they'll just get nasty soap.

Thanks. I'll soon find out if I need to do this.

 

[swampfox440]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Dr Evy]

Welcome to BYC. We’re so glad you joined!

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome! I wouldn't worry. I've broken eggs in the coop before. Mine scarfed them up, but they've never gone out of their way, to break one themselves.