Egg eating problem

[Anonymous]

My wonderful hens have suddenly started to eat their eggs. (I wonder if they have been shown how by a magpie or rat).
I have tried putting a ceramic egg in the nest box to detur them but no luck.
Has anyone any ideas?

 

[Tim]

Egg eating is a tricky one.

Collect eggs as often as you can so they can't eat them. Make nestboxes as dark as possible (an old sack in front of part of the entrance can help) so they lay in a dark / private area that isn't lit like an eating area, ensure a good supply of oystershell so eggs are strong and can be broken less easily and finally, you can 'blow' a couple of eggs and fill them with a mustard mixture. When they taste that a few times, it can put them off for life!

Ultimately, a good nest box is dark and private and does not encourage them to eat eggs - especially if you can get there first and collect them but I know this isn't always easy...

Let us know how you get on though

Tim