[sjw]

We've had three chickens for almost two years and they've been excellent girls, all producing very tasty eggs almost daily. However, in the last few days, one or more of them seem to have cottoned on to how good their produce is, and have been gobbling it up themselves! I am keen to stop this before it becomes an unbreakable habit. Does anyone have any suggestions to break an egg-eating cycle, other than investing in a roll-away nest-box?

It's not just a case of them eating the odd egg that is already broken, as I've heard them bashing them about in the nest box this week, and this morning I managed to rescue an egg just in time, complete with two dented sides where it's been given a darn good pecking! At least one of the birds is clearly pretty determined to access the goods, and it's becoming quite frequent, having happened four times in one week now...

Any advice gratefully received, thanks.

[CameronS]

There must be hundreds of posts similar to this, and from what i gather the only true way is to cull the culprit(s), though you could try filling an egg with something horriable such as mustard, or a hot curry paste etc an try to dicourage them that way.

[sjw]

Thanks. Have done a search of the forum now and found a similar past-post with a lot of replies, so will work my way through those!

[Fleecewife]

We have just realised that jackdaws are stealing our eggs from inside the nest boxes which are of course inside the houses.  Cheeky devils    So now we are collecting eggs as soon as they have come out of the hens, still warm, as being about the only way we can think of to stop the thieves.  In general I like jackdaws as they are so clever and full of character, but we could have a serious falling-out if it continues 

[doganjo]

My cat helps with that problem - catches the young ones and sunbathes on the top of the chicken shed

[Fleecewife]

Clever cat    Our terriers chase them but not to catch them, just for an opportunity to bark