4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[arowland17]

My two hens laid almost everyday up until about 3-4 months ago - we thought maybe they'd slowed down over winter at first, then thoguht it might be worms so gave them the worm powder, but have noticed that they're actually eating the eggs as soon as they're laid...

What can we do?! I think it started as one always was prone to laying soft shelled eggs which sometimes broke when the other hen went to lay and trampled on them, but now we just get a remnant of yolk in the nest box each day as they're eating the whole thing, inside and shell

I tried putting curry powder inside 2 halves of a couple of broken eggs and put them back together in the nest box, only to find that those also got eaten so am pretty unsure of how to get them to stop.

any advice would be really appreciated, had to resort to buying shop eggs the other day which were horrible and pale and small compared to the lovely home laid eggs we're used to!

[Budgies]

My two developed this habit after a few softies were laid.

 

Unfortunately it is a really hard habit to break.

 

The curry egg/mustard egg trick is the only one I know to use - I know that farmer who find an egg eater will usually cull it to prevent the habit spreading.

 

Hopefully someone else will have some other ideas.

[Egluntyne]

A couple of ceramic eggs or golf balls might help. When they have hurt themselves a couple of times trying to peck them open they might get the message.

[Peaches]

My Samosa (now no more ) started doing this when she laid a soft egg. I looked into solutions and one I did see was to construct the nest box floor in such a way that they egg drops down into a holding space below, so out of pecking reach. Don't know if this would be possible for you do, but it's another thought. Sadly, my problem was solved when Samosa died.

 

Fiona

[AJuff]

One of our new girls used to eat only the blue or green eggs which made us . We resloved the situation by painting ceramiv eggs pale blue and green. It stopped virtually overnight. We had considered a roll away nest tray that you just put in the nest box. You can get them for a few £ on ebay. Always worth a try. Good luck.

[wombatally]

I use the roll away nest box inserts - they were about £4 each and t was the only way to stop mine doing it.

[Budgies]

Wombatally where did you get the nest insert?

[pullusleggus]

I have just found this as researching now one of mine is eating softies. Have also found this on web - might be useful for others looking for ideas too?

 

http://www.the-coop.org/wwwboard/discus/messages/2/5342.html

[Jess100]

I don't know if this is true but I heard that if their water isn't really cold it can encourage egg eating so I make sure I give mine fresh water every day and change it during the day if its really hot. Might be worth a try!

[eggscombobulated]

Excuse me but what is a rollaway nest box insert and where do you get them from @ £4? Thanks!

[beach chick]

I'm really struggling with this one too...

 

we have white plastic eggs - dont seem to work, although the broodies love them. I've tried watching over the girl I think is doing it, but couldnt stand next to the cube for 2 hours while she made her mind up to get on and lay!

 

am thinking about a) painting plastic eggs brown (dont have any white egg layers at the mo) - can they see colours? or b) trying the curry/mustard egg thing, but have read elsewhere that chickens cant taste spicey - not sure this makes sense, becoz they can sure as hell taste stuff they do like!

 

I got the rollaway nest boxes (cant remember where from, but just google it!), and ended up with 2 broken eggs on the only day I used them.

I need to know how to make them fit in a cube - think someone on the cube forum did do it, so maybe I need to go there again.

 

such an annoying habit!! for the record, mine have layers pellets, grit, constant water, freerange within 50m electric fence, have areas of shade/sun, protection from rain if rqd, a sandbath in a tray and natural dustbaths they've made themselves, short grass and long grass/vegetation - tbh, I cant think what else they could want!!!!