Egg eating chickens, what to do
#6535320
05/10/19 07:40 PM
05/10/19 07:40 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,755 Nevada
thrstyunderwater
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,755
Nevada
|
I must’ve met I have not scour the Internet for advice as of yet. Other than giving my flock more food, or eating known offending individuals, where else can one do to prevent chickens from eating their own eggs?
Pat, as usual, you are right....
|
|
|
Re: Egg eating chickens, what to do
[Re: thrstyunderwater]
#6535323
05/10/19 07:44 PM
05/10/19 07:44 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,067 Wyoming
cmcf
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,067
Wyoming
|
Oyster shell for calcium supplement? Just a guess from working on an egg farm as a teen.
“The world is governed by very different personages from what is imagined” B. Disraeli
|
|
|
Re: Egg eating chickens, what to do
[Re: thrstyunderwater]
#6535359
05/10/19 08:48 PM
05/10/19 08:48 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 170 Eastern Montana
Rebel Rider
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 170
Eastern Montana
|
I've had issues in the past. What I'd first figure out is if you've got a hen who is laying thin-shelled eggs. If an egg has thin shells, or the eggs crack, they are going to eat them. You can't really blame them. In the wild, a broken egg would attract predators, so eating it is the best way to remove the egg. I recall having some hens who consistently laid thin-shelled eggs. Firstly, make sure the nests have enough wood chips or whatever you use for bedding. The more padding the better. Secondly oyster shells. If your chickens have a calcium deficiency, they'll eat the eggs. Also, add some fake eggs, even Easter eggs will help. If you don't have enough nests, or you have chickens fighting over using the same nest, eggs can get broken. Also, what are you feeding them? I recall more egg eating issues when we were giving them corn. It didn't have enough protein. Make sure they're getting enough protein.
|
|
|
Re: Egg eating chickens, what to do
[Re: thrstyunderwater]
#6535362
05/10/19 08:51 PM
05/10/19 08:51 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 90 Alaska
DucksandDogs
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 90
Alaska
|
Get those wooden eggs that are designed to show new hens where to lay. Be quick on getting eggs out in the morning when they lay and leave the wooden ones. The offenders will try to peck holes in the wooden eggs. it hurts them, they’ll stop. Gotta stay on the egg removal, though, so they don’t have a chance to peck holes in good eggs. Also, keep them fed.
At my house, when I see one pecking or eating an egg, I put a zip tie around its leg. If I catch it again, chicken pot pie.
Lifetime member - ATA, AFTA
|
|
|
Re: Egg eating chickens, what to do
[Re: thrstyunderwater]
#6535460
05/10/19 10:20 PM
05/10/19 10:20 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,389 williams,mn
trapper les
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,389
williams,mn
|
Throw a beaver carcass in there for them.
"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
|
|
|
Re: Egg eating chickens, what to do
[Re: thrstyunderwater]
#6535585
05/11/19 12:03 AM
05/11/19 12:03 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,530 Fingerlakes New York
robert.d12
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,530
Fingerlakes New York
|
Put a golf ball in one of the boxes. It stopped ours from doing it. Easy as it gets, but adding calcium to their diet wouldn't hurt too
The beauty of the second amendment is it wont be needed until they try to take it. -Thomas Jefferson
|
|
|
Re: Egg eating chickens, what to do
[Re: cotton]
#6535612
05/11/19 01:30 AM
05/11/19 01:30 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 849 Washington
wildflights
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 849
Washington
|
i built a roll out nest box to stop mine
This. A nest box with a slanted floor. Roll the eggs into a protected compartment. Alternately, kill the offender. I always executed 2 or 3 innocent hens before putting the axe to the guilty party.
Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire. -Gustav Mahler
|
|
|
Re: Egg eating chickens, what to do
[Re: thrstyunderwater]
#6535854
05/11/19 02:00 PM
05/11/19 02:00 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,761 Central, SD
Law Dog
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,761
Central, SD
|
Neighbor has billiard material fake eggs they look like a real egg. He has to put a dot on the ends of the eggs to make sure they don't get picked with the rest of them! I would bet they hit that with their beaks only 1 time. LOL
Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!
Jerry Herbst
|
|
|
|
|