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[cockadoodle1]

Does anyone know how to stop one of my girls pecking and I think eating her own eggs. This has only been going on for the last few weeks. she is coming up to two years old. Any advice really appreciated as she lays a big egg which is quite thin shelled. Grit is provided in the run

[green]

Don't know why she's doing this, but what you could do to help them make stronger shells is to feed them either their own egg shell (washed, baked and crushed) or limestone flour with some cod liver oil mixed in with their food.

[sage]

Hi

As well as doing what Green said try a rubber egg. One of my girls went through a stage of egg pecking and a rubber egg in the nesting box helped.

 

Sage

[Christian]

Yep, would try rubber eggs to put her off, try making the nesting area darker, by hanging strips of fabric in front of the door? Adding limestone flour can help provide extra calcium, as it is more easily absorbed.

 

Did the egg eating start with the cold weather? Sometimes hens start egg eating as they are thirsty. If there water was frozen, this might explain it?

[Steve the Gas]

Hens will eat their eggs if they are not viable eggs, this is instinct, and re-use of their resorces, so logical and ok.

But NOT if it forms a habit with good shelled eggs.

[Wolfie]

Roll away nest box? We had an ex-bat who laid very soft shelled eggs and then proceeded to eat them. Unfortunately, the other hens then copy and before you know it they're all at it. Google it and then commission one from your other half. My OH's woodwork skills have increased dramatically since the hens arrived!

[Janty]

My friend's hen was doing this. I coated an egg in tabasco sauce and let it dry before placing it in the nest box. It was the last egg she ate apparently.