[Ghdp]

Just a quick up date on how we have managed the egg eating problem. We have found that the problem only happens if the culprit can get back to the nesting boxes on her own. Now we do not let any of the hens out of the immediate confines of the run until they have all laid and we have collected the eggs - and only then open the gate so they can range freely over the paddocks . With the other hens present in the run the pecking has stopped.
I have watched this over the last few months and it is consistent behaviour.
It can only work as a system when all of the hens are laying everyday and I know that I have got them all of course but thought I would post in case it is of interest to anyone.

[Bionic]

definitely interested in this as I have the same problem. 4 eggs spoiled yesterday and 1 today. As soon as I hear one of them making a noise I'm off out there to get the eggs but if you have to go out then they get them first.

Does anyone have a coop with a sort of drop box for eggs?

I am trying to decide if this would work. How do they collect the eggs at a commercial place?

[doganjo]

A conveyor belt takes them away after they are laid.

[Bionic]

A conveyor belt takes them away after they are laid.

Thanks Annie, not sure I am up to attaching a conveyor belt for 5 eggs a day though :-(

[doganjo]

I'm wondering if I can get my son to devise a method of raising the nesting box and having a chute down to a box below to catch the eggs.  Should save the rats getting them too

[Womble]

You can get rollaway inserts etc for nestboxes, for example here on ebay. Our hens wouldn't know what to do with a nestbox though, so it's not going to work for us!

[Bionic]

That rollaway insert looks good Womble. I will speak to OH (my designer) to see if he could fit it.

thanks