Egg Eating Chickens
#6174740
03/01/18 09:30 PM
03/01/18 09:30 PM
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,217 Priest River, Idaho USA
SundanceMtnMan
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,217
Priest River, Idaho USA
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Help I can't keep my chickens from eating eggs. In the last five I have changed brands of feed a couple times, completely culled my flock twice and tried several different breeds. I free feed oyster shell, they have plenty of water and room. They are free range and I even shovel an outside area in the winter. I have been around chickens for 60 years and I am baffled any suggestions?
"They Say Nothing is Impossible, But, I Do Nothing Every Day."
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Re: Egg Eating Chickens
[Re: SundanceMtnMan]
#6174749
03/01/18 09:35 PM
03/01/18 09:35 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,118 Northern Wisconsin,Rhinelander
Hodagtrapper
Muskrat Master
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Muskrat Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,118
Northern Wisconsin,Rhinelander
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The last batch started eating eggs when they were near the end of there productive laying days. Replaced them with new layers just reaching their prime and have had no problems. We empty the nest box right away in the morning so the eggs in some cases are still warm.
Chris
>>In God we trust<<
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Re: Egg Eating Chickens
[Re: SundanceMtnMan]
#6174752
03/01/18 09:39 PM
03/01/18 09:39 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 61 Pa.
IndianHemlock
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 61
Pa.
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I would collect eggs early and through out the day if you can. I have also spent some time watching them and try to pick out the one that's doing it,i killed a few wrong chickens before i finally got the right one. Good luck.
Member-NTA,PTA,NMTA." You can't change the past,but you'll ruin the present by worrying about the future"
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Re: Egg Eating Chickens
[Re: KeithC]
#6174797
03/01/18 10:03 PM
03/01/18 10:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,030 SEPA
Lugnut
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,030
SEPA
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That's interesting about the blinders, what makes that work.
We've been lucky so far, never had an egg-eater in fifteen-plus years of keeping chickens. We routinely feed our chickens cracked or old eggs (we break them open first) but they have never broken and ate a fresh unbroken egg.
My granddaughter is in charge of gathering eggs and she's a klutz, constantly dropping and cracking eggs. We have her throw the cracked ones into the pen where they smash on the ground.
Eh...wot?
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Re: Egg Eating Chickens
[Re: SundanceMtnMan]
#6174803
03/01/18 10:05 PM
03/01/18 10:05 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,170 Oregon
beaverpeeler
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,170
Oregon
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In my experience once they start the only solution is a 10 qt stewpot. I always looked for the chicken with dried yolk on its beak and you need to get right on it because the other chickens learn the behavior in short order and you'll have the whole flock doing it.
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
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Re: Egg Eating Chickens
[Re: beaverpeeler]
#6174818
03/01/18 10:13 PM
03/01/18 10:13 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,368 Texas
jtg
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,368
Texas
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That's right. Golf balls or fake eggs sometimes help. Alfalfa every week or so. Lots of oyster grit. But like he said, once one starts, it teachers the others. In my experience once they start the only solution is a 10 qt stewpot. I always looked for the chicken with dried yolk on its beak and you need to get right on it because the other chickens learn the behavior in short order and you'll have the whole flock doing it.
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Re: Egg Eating Chickens
[Re: Hodagtrapper]
#6174873
03/01/18 11:00 PM
03/01/18 11:00 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,253 Minnesota
Woodsloafer72
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,253
Minnesota
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You can try blowing the insides out and filling it with hot sauce. I've heard it works, but have never tried it. Now that is an idea! Chris If it doesn't work you have preseasoned chicken!
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Re: Egg Eating Chickens
[Re: SundanceMtnMan]
#6174888
03/01/18 11:09 PM
03/01/18 11:09 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,030 SEPA
Lugnut
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,030
SEPA
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Lugnut what brand of feed do you use? People keep telling me it is something they are not getting in their diet. We fed Purina Layena pellets up until last year when my wife started getting a different brand at the local Agway. We supplement with table scraps.
Eh...wot?
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Re: Egg Eating Chickens
[Re: SundanceMtnMan]
#6174943
03/01/18 11:39 PM
03/01/18 11:39 PM
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 5,518 South Carolina
Tom cat
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 5,518
South Carolina
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You can believe it or not, but feed um pork rinds, it’ll stop the egg eating, they are needing more protein in they’re diet.
Sugarcreektrapping@gmail.com
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