Egg eating

[Timmy]

Hi all ..have not been on for a few weeks owing to lambing and wifes terminal decline .Christ she's only 38 same as me but Please I won't bother you guys @n girls with all that.. can anybody help me with some advice about egg eating'.
My chickens are in three separate pens....I let each pen out toscratch etc in rotation and it seemed to work ok
The black Rocks are worst..then second come the Buff Orpingtons and lastly the rescue birds which I took as a favour to a friend..all the birds now are seemingly egg eaters... Its a bl***y joke...unless you stand over them you don't get any eggs....my mate reckons I have to have a total clear out and start again.so I thought I would put it over to my good friends on the forum what should I do ?
Is it because I am not around as much? they are fed twice a day....cleanliness is ok water is always there...but the sight of a hen walking round with half an eggshell in its mouth drives me to despair...well! there you have it anyone out there got the answer?
as always all opinions are welcome best wishes Timmy x

 

[tygrysek75]

This habit is out of control in your case I gues.Try to sort out nest boxes first.If thay laing in nest boxes you can fit roll away inserts so they can't get to the eggs in the first place.Try to read other post,few people having same problem with egg eaters at the moment.The hens learn from eachother so one is all it needs to get in to bad habits.Good Luck and keep collecting the eggs as often as you can.

 

[chrismahon]

A scattering of pot eggs in the nest boxes is a good start (Agri merchant, internet or rubber eggs from Wilkos). When they've bashed their little beaks on a few of them they will think twice. Nest boxes need curtains. Gives hens some privacy and keeps the eggs out of sight. Forget the old remedies of blowing eggs and filling them with curry powder and similar -they like it! As Tygresek says, roll away nest boxes should work but you will need to make some or buy some and fit them and you have enough on your plate at the moment. Wishing you the best Timmy.

 

[Chuck]

I'd take up Chris's suggestions but if they don't work I'd cull and start again as there's no point in feeding them for no return.

 

[kegs]

Hi Tim

Just in case you don't get time for the research how about this insert which seems reasonably priced to me and will hopefully solve the problem.

http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acatalog/Rollaway_Nest_Box_Inserts.html

On a personal note make sure you look after yourself too. I can't begin to imagine how you're feeling (pretty rough I'd guess). I was feeling tired and fed up (we have a son with special needs who even at 13 never sleeps through the night) and then I read your post so thank you for reminding me that I shouldn't feel so sorry for myself. You're right, 38 is no age at all and life can be very unfair. My thoughts are with you.

 

[Marigold]

Hi Tim,
That link from Kegs does look worth a go, doesn't it, quite cheap too, would keep the eggs clean even with birds that didn't eat them. But I also agree with Chuck, that if the habit has become so widespread in your flock that none of the other suggestions are likely to work, yuo could consider culling and maybe starting again when the time feels right. It doesn't sound as if, with your commitments, you have time or energy to keep 3 lots of unproductive hens as expensive and time-consuming pets. Maybe it would be a relief not to have to look after them any more, since it's so unrewarding and yet one more thing to 'drive you to despair,' as you say. If you're involved with lambing as well, this is exhausting work, but you are a farmer so will be able to face up to the need to cull where this seems the best option.
We'll all be there for you, Timmy, please do keep posting whatever the outcomes, our kind thoughts are with you both.