[Mamagoose]

Hi.  Can someone tell me how to stop my chooks from eating their own eggs?  They started doing it about 10 days ago.  We've tried to be on the look out but somehow only managed to save one.  Any advice greatly appreciated.

[Castle Farm]

You eat the chooks that eat the eggs.

Every other way isn't as effective.

[Cinderhills]

We had that a while ago.  Only things we did were to try and collect eggs as often as possible, but we also put a marble egg in the nesting box.  This did seem to help actually.  They have stopped doing it on a regular basis now.  At the time we were getting some softer shelled eggs which they realised were easy to break.  They do get access to grit too so not sure what was going on then.

[Mamagoose]

Thanks for the replies.  I did think about a plaster egg.  I will get one asap.  As for eating the offending hen, I am afraid that I haven't find the culprit yet.

[darkbrowneggs]

Try putting an egg down on the floor somewhere and see who runs for it first

All the best
Sue

[CameronS]

try, fining an intact egg, and through a pencil hole, or similar size, remove all the egg innards, (pin hole in other side and blow) then fill the shell with strong, mustard, curry powder, and anything else strong and nasty tasting. and put it in the nest box

[doganjo]

try, fining an intact egg, and through a pencil hole, or similar size, remove all the egg innards, (pin hole in other side and blow) then fill the shell with strong, mustard, curry powder, and anything else strong and nasty tasting. and put it in the nest box

I did that and it worked. think of leaving some out for the magpies too 

[Glentarki]

Probably the chicken keepers worst nightmare!!…. I’ve had this problem crop up over the years from time to time and its really so difficult to stop………Its also infectious as once one hens starts next thing the others will follow … thinking they are missing out!

What causes chooks to do this beats me especially well fed and free ranging…But I tend to go with the idea that if a chook stumbles across a broken egg or soft shelled egg and it tastes good, then trouble will follow

I remember spending a lot of money on French Wheaton Marans a good few years back they were a nightmare once they started laying just ate every egg going……..I tried all the usual things that I had tried over the years and as usual it didn’t work long-term.

However in desperation to get hatching eggs and one year later of egg eating I decided to give the birds a final chance and it did work. Certainly not expecting everyone to do the same but this worked for me!!…..I purchased a £89 6x4 shed from B&Q (Only because all the other houses in use) covered the window over so the shed was in darkness……situated the nest boxes away from the light of a cat flap sized entrance door….reduced the entry size of the next boxes with ply…………. positioned the roosting perches not too high and near the entrance so they had just enough light to see where to roost.
And finally I built a small attached fox proof covered run so the hens had access to feed  and a dry area to chill out when they wanted and from here had day access to free ranging at lib……I also ordered china eggs from Carrs Billington (Farmers Merchant) and placed a couple in each nest box and hey presto 3 weeks after they were introduced we had a regular supply of eggs…….It wasn’t a cure but a preventative as some days eggs had the odd chip out of them I guess that was a hit or miss in the dark verses a real egg or a china one LOL.

Hope this helps a tad and good luck

Dave

 

[andrew ford]

what you do is blow the egg (remove contence thrugh putting hole at top and bottom and blow through one) and fill the eggs up with mustard and they wont eat eggs again

[Sylvia]

This is usually caused by weak-shelled eggs. The hen will naturally eat the egg to keep the nest clean and to keep the smell from attracting predators, it is not naughtiness!! 
Plenty of oyster grit, served in a separate bowl to the food will help to strenghten the shells and lots of tasty treats, cabbage, apples etc. will take their minds off the eggs(hopefully!)

[Mamagoose]

Thank you for the replies.  I don't know if the mustard will work, they have already eaten 3 extremely hot chili peppers shrubs, chilies and all.  They are free ranging and have plenty of grit and stuff.  They are young and they've only just started to lay; a few of the eggs were soft shelled so I guess that is how they first got the taste for it.  Glentarki, I think your solution might be a good one even I shall consider it seriously if the marble egg doesn't work.

[plumseverywhere]

Thank you for the replies.  I don't know if the mustard will work, they have already eaten 3 extremely hot chili peppers shrubs, chilies and all.  They are free ranging and have plenty of grit and stuff.  They are young and they've only just started to lay; a few of the eggs were soft shelled so I guess that is how they first got the taste for it.  Glentarki, I think your solution might be a good one even I shall consider it seriously if the marble egg doesn't work.

I filled one with mustard and very hot chilli last year, the little toads enjoyed it far too much!! in the end it was a pot egg that cured my lot, they took a few pecks and gave up.
also keep the next boxes as dark as possible - their eyesight isn't so good so they will struggle to find the eggs if not light. and yes, regular collecting.

[northfifeduckling]

try, fining an intact egg, and through a pencil hole, or similar size, remove all the egg innards, (pin hole in other side and blow) then fill the shell with strong, mustard, curry powder, and anything else strong and nasty tasting. and put it in the nest box

I did that and it worked. think of leaving some out for the magpies too 

one of mine started eating the eggs she was sitting on.  When she was busy with her chick in the end we did the same and it worked - she does not like mustard and never touched one again.