[Sharnoak]

Can anyone tell me how to stop this? I recently rehomed 6 Isas from what was supposed to be a 'free range' facility-not- and they have settled in well, now have new feathers and nice red combs, but I think they are destroying eggs, as I saw one do it in front of me the other morning. To start with all was fine, and had plenty of eggs, but now only 1 or 2 a day if I'm lucky  They don't want to roost at night in the house with the others, but prefer the tree in the middle of their yard! Any advice gratefully taken!

[Skirza]

By 'destroying' do you mean they are eating them? Egg eaters are bad news. You can try mixing mustard into egg and leaving it in the shell for them to eat - it sometimes works - but actually, once an egg eater, always an egg eater and best got rid of.

[Bert]

Sorry I can't help, But I can let you know you are not alone. I also have an egg eater and when I can 100% Identify her, she will be no more . There will be lots on here with great advice for you 

[in the hills]

Only had egg eaters once. I put lemons in the nest boxes and it did stop pretty quickly and did not start again. Also you could try eggs filled with anything hot eg mustard, china eggs or even I am told golf balls. Try to collect eggs several times a day if possible.

Were these birds introduced to an existing flock? Are they afraid to go in? They may need a wired off section at first.

Have you checked the coop for red mite? This would make them reluctant to go in.

Often new birds have to be trained to go in at night. Go out at dusk and throw corn into the coop. If they are as friendly as my warren type hybrids you could just scoop them up and pop them in or shepherd them in.

[northfifeduckling]

I filled a shell with mustard, did the trick for that hen here. Really hot Chilly or pottery eggs in the nesting box are supposed to be good, too. Good luck!

[manian]

hi
we had a egg eater and they seem to teach others
we tried the 'really hot chilli  and mustard and they loved it!!!! 
once an egg eater always an egg eater but we removed the 3 main culprits and let them free range with the pigs etc, they still eat their own if soft shelled or we are not quick enough, but at least we get them from the main flock now!!
not tried lemons or china ones
Mx

[Sharnoak]

Thanks for all the tips! I have a stone egg that I shall try-that will really give them a shock , if that fails, then the chilli and mustard trick! I managed to get one egg from 9 chooks today...the problem with picking the culprit (unless caught in the act) is that all the Isas look remarkably similar 

[Sandy]

I keep finding an eaten egg, it never used to happen but in the first lot of eggs was a delecate one that broke in the nest so the hens ran in to eat it, I tried to clear it up as fast as I could but it seems to have started them off...not sure who or how many eat them unless I sit and watch so I am going to have to collect the eggs at least 2 times a day!!

[doganjo]

Thanks for all the tips! I have a stone egg that I shall try-that will really give them a shock , if that fails, then the chilli and mustard trick! I managed to get one egg from 9 chooks today...the problem with picking the culprit (unless caught in the act) is that all the Isas look remarkably similar 

Are you finding the remaining bits of shell and some of the white and yolk?  If not and you only find complete eggs the hens may not be the only culprits.  I used to have eggs stolen by magpies and rats.

[northfifeduckling]

Thanks for all the tips! I have a stone egg that I shall try-that will really give them a shock , if that fails, then the chilli and mustard trick! I managed to get one egg from 9 chooks today...the problem with picking the culprit (unless caught in the act) is that all the Isas look remarkably similar 

I agree with the others in that the longer it goes on the more difficult it will be to stop them. A friend had to let 2 lots of hens go for that reason - they had all come from the same place and probably brought the bad habit with them. We were probably lucky as ours started when she was broody and we caught her in the act showing her only surviving chick the nutritious snack when she had started laying again. She was still on her own so we did not have to find the culprit first. I still find that they all eat a soft shelled or broken egg if they can get hold of one but none seems to go for a proper egg now, all fingers crossed!

[northfifeduckling]

[/quote]Are you finding the remaining bits of shell and some of the white and yolk?  If not and you only find complete eggs the hens may not be the only culprits.  I used to have eggs stolen by magpies and rats.
[/quote]

Annie, with ours there was no evidence left at all, not the tiniest bit of shell or liquid - I knew because I had counted the eggs and watched her once in the act that it must have been her!

[Sharnoak]

No, no evidence apart from wet straw! Yes I think it's well possible that a rat might be involved as well A friend told she had a similar problem with hers, and when she added extra grit to their diet, it stopped so I shall try that too.

[Sandy]

I keep forgetting to keep used egg shell to crush...I need to put a container next to the bin to save the shells to put around where the hens are!!! may help

[Penninehillbilly]

I was going to ask if they had plenty of grit. I found mine ate eggs when they were hungry, bored, or short of shell/grit. Whether they are pecking at them for the grit (testing to see if it's edible or crumbles?) or the shells are a little thin, break and then get eaten.
and I must remember to take that crushed eggshell to them.

[in the hills]

Do you have to bake the egg shell first and then crush?

A friend told me that you should pop them in a cooling oven to bake and then crush. Mine solidified on the baking sheet and was impossible to scrape off!

I took in a couple of warren type hybrids from a lady who could no longer keep them and one of these lays a huge soft shelled or without a shell egg. They free range and have had access to grit. Any ideas why? Tips?

I have plenty of eggs so it doesnt worry me that there is no egg to collect but think the broken egg may encourage egg eating. I collect as often as I can but often someone else has trampled and broken it before I get there.