why is one of my chickens eating her egg right after she lays it?

[tylerhorseman]

Hi I got chickens last spring and now this spring one has started eating the shell at first she would just Peck it a couple of times now she is eating the whole thing outta 10 hens she's the only one doing it

 

[Mahonri]

and she will start eating other's eggs as well if you don't get rid of her and worse yet, teach the other hens to eat eggs.

I've heard of ways to stop them... grape cool aid etc... but

I've never seen an egg eater rehabilitated.

 

[tylerhorseman]

I figured there was no way to "train" her to stop but thought I'd try Now I just have to figure out Which one is doing it

 

[TriciaHowe]

I had an egg eater too that I couldn't break. She is now relegated to running with the ducks instead of with my good laying hens. She still eats her eggs but doesn't bother the duck eggs too much. Probably because they crack differently. If you don't have the room to seperate her then you should think about getting rid of her. She will teach the other hens to eat eggs.

 

[geebs]

You can't do a whole lot.... Freezer camp before she teaches them all.

 

[tylerhorseman]

Yea I'm not sure exactly which one it is but I'm almost done with mu hoop house so I guess ill just have to Take a few out each day till I find the culprit

 

[HEChicken]

Another option would mean revamping your nesting boxes, but if you are able to make a roll-away nest box for them all to use, you may solve your problem. They are supposed to work by being on enough of a slant that when the hen lays, the egg rolls away behind a partition where she can't access it, but you can. I've never built one so not sure exactly what is involved but I'm sure you can find examples and possibly even plans by doing a search on the forum.