They're all egg eaters!!! Update!!!!

[Haunted Chicken]

I thought I had at least 3 more weeks to start looking for my first egg. Oh the wonderful anticipation.....and then I look out my window at noon today and see all 5 of my ladies pecking away at something on the sidewalk. My heart sunk when I realized what it was. I ran back in for a garbage bag and returned to find a spotless sidewalk. All evidence was already gone. I'm beginning to wonder if one of my most recent ladies is much older than we thought. They may have been doing this everyday since she came 2 weeks ago. I see a tough road ahead of me trying to break them of this. I've been taking my time finishing the run since they free range all day and only go into the coop at night. I guess I'll start by keeping her and her friend in the coop tomorrow. I'll just keep checking for an egg. Luckily I know which one it is since she's the only one that should lay white eggs. What a heart break. I was so excited to find that first egg and show everyone. Oh well.......

Just another chicken adventure, I guess

 

[jtbrown]

I am sad for you.

 

[Haunted Chicken]

Quote:
Thank you, my heart just sunk when I saw that pile of egg shells. No happy dance going on for that egg

 

[ChickenScratchin]

Don't be discouraged. One of my first eggs was soft shelled and laid on the floor right in front of me... The crowd got there before I could and it was gone. But they haven't eaten one since.

I'd make sure she has a good box and lock her in if necessary, to make sure it's out-of-sight-out-of-mind.

 

[al6517]

That is allways a tough site to see, it makes me mad very mad. Mainly because it is just so dang hard to break them, I have never been able to as with most folks. Some folks won't cull regardless and spend small fortunes on goofy little tricks or an easier roll out nest box. If I find one now it get's it's neck twisted right then and there in front of all the other hen's in plain view, although that method doesn't help the other hens get the idea, it makes me feel better. We spend all that time and effort raising them to laying age only to find they egg eaters, it's devestating. Good luck on trying to break her or any other method.

 

[MIKE555444]

One thing you might try is to put out some golf balls... which they consider to be eggs. If they try and can't eat them then the may decide they can't eat the real ones either... Otherwise you may end up with several that do this. I had a flock once that would punish me by eating eggs if I let there food tray run empty... so my chickens always have plenty of food now lol

Good Luck

 

[Cpprpnny19]

Some of my "needed a new home" hens were egg eaters. They were cooped
up all day in a small pen, plucked bald by the 2 rooster to 3 hens ratio, and not
fed right.
As soon as food was available in abundance, and they went out everyday, they stopped eating
the eggs. In fact one lays now and can't leave the egg behind fast enough to go out to forage lol!

Lynne

 

[AZBootsie]

I have read that if you make their nesting box short, they can't stand up after laying the egg to get a good peck at it. You could try that. Just have to get them to lay in the box instead of the sidewalk.

 

[AZBootsie]

Quote:
Sounds like a possiblity to me!!
maybe try and increase their protein??

 

[Ahena]

I had an elderly lady (I'm 65) tell me to blow out an egg and fill it with yellow mustard. She said they can't stand the taste. I know which hen does it, and if this doesn't stop her egg eating we will be having chicken and noodles.......

Good luck