Lovemychooks Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 I was just wondering if anyone had come across an egg eating chicken before ?! I'm asking because I collected the eggs from the chickens yesterday and dropped one on the floor and before I had time to clean it up they had eaten it ! Will this do them any harm ? I have also read stories about giving the chickens eggshell but to bake it first. I know this probably sounds silly but why do you bake it ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 dont worry this wont do them any harm but make sure you dont let them do it again because it will become a habbit and they will eat the eggs before you cant get to them! as for the bakeing thing i dont know, maybe to soften them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted June 8, 2007 Author Share Posted June 8, 2007 Ahh yes, good point, I didn't think of that, thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 Baking the shell changes the taste (I believe) so that the chickens don;t start tucking into the freshly laid eggs in the nesting box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 It also makes them easier to pulversie in the liquidiser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 I whack 'em with the rolling pin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 eggshells or the chooks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 (edited) it's a great way to get rid of grumps - whacking the egg shells with a wooden spoon. I can't tell you what I imagine I'm whacking, mind.. Edited June 8, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted June 8, 2007 Author Share Posted June 8, 2007 Ah it all makes sense now ! Whenever i've had the eggs in my hand the chickens always make a beeline for the eggs and try to peck them (I hide them in my hand) and many a finger has been pecked !! They grumble at me as if to say "don't spoil our fun" and they put their head to one side as if to say "don't you love us anymore"....they know i'm a pushover ! Chookiehen, I hope you mean you whack the eggs !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 I met a friend's chickens and when they saw an egg they dived on it and I had to fight with 4 chickens to collect the egg. They were rolling it round and diving on it like a treat. We crush egg shells with a pestle and mortar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyReckless Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 We had awful trouble with egg-eating hens. We had to be VERY quick to collect an egg for us. I don't know how it started; we always baked the eggshells before crushing them to give to the chooks so the smell would be different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanbb Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 Other than grabbing the eggs quickly once laid, is there any other way of deterring them from doing this Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 Yes Susan! You need to blow an egg, then fill it with mustard/chilli/black pepper. Then leave it for them. Hopefully the taste will stop them doing this. A bumper bit would also work, but I would use this as a last resort. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanbb Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 Thanks so much for that Christian. I'll give it a go as it was only this morning that they started doing it Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 Lesley had problems with egg eating and ended up buying rollaway nest boxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 I have seen just a few instances of egg eating with mine, usually if I have dropped the egg or if it gets laid in the run on the paving slabs and cracks open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 I'm getting suspicious of Abbie this week and hoping it won't be a habit. I had for the last 4 days in order a crushed patch on an egg, a small hole, a smashed egg in the nest (all 3 were Trinny eggs) and today 2 chickens eating Abbie's broken egg in the middle of the garden. I bet it's my asbo chicken Abbie. She already pecks/pulls feathers and is the noisiest chicken I know, this wouldn't surprise me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballgunner Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 your supposed to but mustard in an egg shell so if they eat it they hate the taste and stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyReckless Posted June 8, 2007 Share Posted June 8, 2007 I bet it's my asbo chicken Abbie. I think that's a FAB way to define a renegade chook! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
