To cull or not to cull?

[Beaker99]

I've got egg eaters. Second season of this behavior. I got roll away boxes, which they only use if there are sufficient wood chips, which then prevent the eggs rolling down.
My husband is in favor of culling, but they are only 3 years old.
Thoughts?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

How many in your flock? How many egg eaters? Do you know which chickens are eating eggs? Is your whole flock 3 yo? Do you plan to cull the whole flock, or just the guilty ones? What do you feed, including snacks? How long has this been going on and what have you tried besides the roll-away nests?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

At 3 yo, their best egg-laying days may be behind them anyway, if that's a factor in keeping them.

 

[LaFleche]

How many chickens do you have in total and are there some among them that do not eat eggs?

If they all eat the eggs it might be best to follow your husband's advice.

 

[Beaker99]

I've got 9, EE and BCMs. I know one of the egg eaters. The one that started it last year. I should have cooked her but I was weak.
My guess is about 3-4 of my marans are eating them.
There are all 3 years old this May.

 

[LaFleche]

I've got 9, EE and BCMs. I know one of the egg eaters. The one that started it last year. I should have cooked her but I was weak.
My guess is about 3-4 of my marans are eating them.
There are all 3 years old this May.

Maybe try to single out the eggeaters and cull them right away, so you can hopefully keep the ones that will lay without immediately eating their own eggs.

What exactly are you feeding? Sometimes egg eating behaviour can be caused by nutrient deficiencies.

 

[Beaker99]

Maybe try to single out the eggeaters and cull them right away, so you can hopefully keep the ones that will lay without immediately eating their own eggs.

What exactly are you feeding? Sometimes egg eating behaviour can be caused by nutrient deficiencies.

I have tried 3 different feed brands. Protein ranging from 16-20%. Currently using 20. Free feed and oyster shell is also available.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Can you put a camera out there and try to narrow down the culprits? I'd hate to see you destroy all 9 if only 2 or 3 are doing it. On the other hand, you could put all of them in the freezer and start over, they will make good soup or dumplings. And some of us rotate out our old stock at 3 years anyway, as they may start having reproductive issues at this age anyway, up to and including cancer, rendering them useless even as meat.

 

[Ridgerunner]

To me an egg eater is a chicken that opens the eggs to eat them. Many chickens will eat eggs if they are already open. To me, if they are not opening them they are not a problem.

I know one of the egg eaters. The one that started it last year. I should have cooked her but I was weak.

I understand. Sometimes it is just hard to do. But it is a learned behavior. If you can figure out which ones are opening the eggs you'll probably be OK just removing them. So that is one option.

To me, the other option is to get rid of all of them and start over. Are you getting any eggs for you? Is it worth keeping them?

If you do get more, do not house them with the egg eaters. It is a learned behavior.