Egg Eating Chickens
#6174740
03/01/18 09:30 PM
03/01/18 09:30 PM
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,221 Priest River, Idaho USA
SundanceMtnMan
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,221
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: 6,119 Northern Wisconsin,Rhinelander
Hodagtrapper
Muskrat Master
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Muskrat Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,119
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: 20,037 SEPA
Lugnut
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,037
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: 11,184 Oregon
beaverpeeler
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,184
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: 1,257 Minnesota
Woodsloafer72
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,257
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: 20,037 SEPA
Lugnut
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,037
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
trapper
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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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Re: Egg Eating Chickens
[Re: SundanceMtnMan]
#6174988
03/02/18 12:21 AM
03/02/18 12:21 AM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 270 SE SD
SDbeeman
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 270
SE SD
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Try meat scraps...like the pork rinds its high in protein, but also it's red and meaty. There will still be a teacher a lot of times, and I would find her and clip beak on her. Otherwise clip them all if you can't find her. I really like the roll out nests but don't have one, there are plans to make them fairly cheap.
goals/caught: rats: 10/0 coon 50/87 mink 10/0 beaver 10/6 possum 0/1 skunk 0/0
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Re: Egg Eating Chickens
[Re: SundanceMtnMan]
#6175013
03/02/18 12:44 AM
03/02/18 12:44 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,872 Central, SD
Law Dog
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,872
Central, SD
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My neighbor has plastic eggs in his boxes my guess they slam into them hard eggs and learn a quick lesson first time I collected egg for them I picked them up thought they were the real deal. Then notices a dot on the ends of them so you know what ones are fake!
Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!
Jerry Herbst
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Re: Egg Eating Chickens
[Re: SundanceMtnMan]
#6176592
03/03/18 01:41 PM
03/03/18 01:41 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,963 rogers city mi.
jeff karsten
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,963
rogers city mi.
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I like the protein supplement idea my dad had fake eggs in the boxes but once they get a taste for blood they may kill and eat other chickens is this a late winter /early spring issue?
olden tyred
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Re: Egg Eating Chickens
[Re: star flakes]
#6176598
03/03/18 02:01 PM
03/03/18 02:01 PM
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 849 Washington
wildflights
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 849
Washington
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There are only three options, two of which have been mentioned in clipping beaks or eating them as the cheap choices, a more expensive one is to get or build nests where the chicken lays an egg an it rolls into a covered holding tray. Rolling egg nests help keep the eggs clean and protected. No grubby feet walking on them. Depending on your setup, it shouldn't be tough to retrofit. A small 3" square compartment in the front for the eggs to roll into and a 1/4" plywood ramp.
Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire. -Gustav Mahler
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Re: Egg Eating Chickens
[Re: SundanceMtnMan]
#6176680
03/03/18 04:52 PM
03/03/18 04:52 PM
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,221 Priest River, Idaho USA
SundanceMtnMan
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,221
Priest River, Idaho USA
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Thanks everyone. I free feed oyster shell and have golf balls in the nests. I never thought about when it started every time but don't think it is only late winter. I guess I will be watching chickens again and butchering a few more. To bad because I could sell way more eggs then I will ever produce.
"They Say Nothing is Impossible, But, I Do Nothing Every Day."
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Re: Egg Eating Chickens
[Re: SundanceMtnMan]
#6176776
03/03/18 07:07 PM
03/03/18 07:07 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,460 havelock, NC
Rye
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,460
havelock, NC
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You could increase the protein intake in the food. I usually see egg cracking once or twice a year. A wood egg stops or cold every time.
"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living; the world owes you nothing; it was here first. " --Mark Twain.
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Re: Egg Eating Chickens
[Re: ejgartland]
#6176974
03/03/18 11:05 PM
03/03/18 11:05 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,817 Sauk County, WI
Patrice
"TMan Feed Gestapo "
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"TMan Feed Gestapo "
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,817
Sauk County, WI
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Sorry to hear that, SundanceMtnMan. I've been lucky enough never to have an egg eater, but I was also going to mention the roll out or roll away nest boxes. I've seen them in various catalogues.
WTA District 9 Director ... Go D9! Member: WTA, Intertel, Mensa (Trappers ain't stupid.) Life Member: NRA
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