One of the most frustrating things to deal with is when your hens start eating their own eggs. Not only does it result in a loss of valuable eggs, but it can also create a bad habit that’s difficult to break.
If you’re facing this issue, don’t despair. There are several things you can do to stop your chickens from eating their eggs.
Understand Why Chickens Eat Their Eggs
The first step in stopping egg eating is to understand why chickens do it in the first place. There are several reasons that can lead to this behavior, including:
- Nutritional deficiencies: If your chickens aren’t getting enough calcium, protein, or other nutrients in their diet, they may turn to eating their own eggs as a way to compensate.
- Boredom: Chickens that are bored or not stimulated enough can turn to egg eating as a form of entertainment.
- Habit: Once a chicken starts eating eggs, it can become a hard-to-break habit.
- Lack of nesting boxes: If your hens don’t have enough nesting boxes or if the boxes are too crowded, they may start pecking at eggs out of frustration.
Now that you know why your chickens might be eating their eggs, let’s dive into how to stop them.
Provide a Nutritious Diet
Providing a nutritious diet is not only important for the overall health of your chickens, but it can also play a significant role in preventing egg eating. Chickens that are lacking essential nutrients such as calcium and protein are more likely to start eating their own eggs as a way to compensate for these deficiencies.
To ensure that your chickens are getting the proper nutrition, it’s important to provide them with a high-quality layer feed that is specifically formulated for laying hens. These feeds are typically enriched with the necessary vitamins and minerals, including calcium, that your birds need to produce healthy eggs.
In addition to layer feed, you can also supplement your chickens’ diet with oyster shells. Oyster shells are an excellent source of calcium and can help prevent calcium deficiencies, which can lead to soft or thin-shelled eggs. You can offer oyster shells in a separate container or mix them directly into their feed.
Giving your chickens treats like mealworms or cat food can also be a great way to supplement their diet with additional protein. Protein is essential for the growth and maintenance of muscle and feathers, as well as for egg production. However, it’s important to remember that treats should only make up a small portion of your chickens’ diet and should not be used as a replacement for their regular feed.
Make Nesting Boxes More Comfortable
Improving the comfort level of your chickens’ nesting boxes can also help reduce egg eating. When hens are uncomfortable or stressed, they may become more likely to peck at and eat their own eggs. To prevent this, you can try placing a paint rolling tray in the nesting boxes with the deep end toward the back. Then, cut a piece of a thin flat board that will fit side-to-side in the nest box over the deep end of the tray. This creates a rolling mechanism that allows the eggs to roll away from the hen after they are laid.
Adding nesting mats to the tray can also make the nesting boxes more comfortable for your hens. These mats can provide a soft and cozy surface for the hens to lay their eggs on. When the hen lays her egg, it will roll back under the board, out of sight, and out of her mind! This helps prevent the hens from seeing and pecking at the eggs, as they are no longer visible to them.
It’s important to note that the nesting boxes should also be kept clean and free of debris, as dirty or cluttered nesting boxes can cause stress and discomfort for the hens. By creating a comfortable and clean environment for your chickens, you can help reduce their stress levels and prevent egg eating behavior.
Offer Distractions and Entertainment
Chickens are naturally curious creatures that love to peck and scratch at things. However, when they become bored, they may start to peck at their eggs as a form of entertainment. Therefore, providing distractions and entertainment for your chickens is an effective way to stop egg eating.
One simple way to provide entertainment is by hanging a head of cabbage or lettuce from the ceiling of the coop. This will give your chickens something to peck at, keeping them occupied and less likely to peck at their eggs. Alternatively, you can add a pile of straw or hay in the coop for your chickens to scratch around in. This is a great way to encourage natural behaviors while also keeping your chickens entertained.
Another option is to add some toys to the coop. Mirrors are a great way to provide visual stimulation, as chickens are naturally curious and enjoy looking at their reflections. You can also add a hanging treat dispenser, which will not only provide entertainment but also give your chickens a healthy snack.
By offering distractions and entertainment, you can prevent your chickens from getting bored and turning to egg eating. This will not only help to protect your egg supply but also keep your chickens happy and healthy.
Add Fake Eggs
Adding fake eggs to the nesting boxes is another effective method to stop egg-eating in chickens. The concept is simple: trick the chickens into pecking at the fake eggs instead of the real ones. You can use golf balls or plastic eggs that are of the same size and color as the real eggs. Placing them in the nesting boxes will make the chickens believe that they are laying their eggs next to others. This way, when they peck at the fake eggs, they will realize that they cannot break them open and will eventually lose interest in eating the eggs altogether.
It is important to keep in mind that fake eggs should not be used as a permanent solution. They should be replaced with real eggs as soon as they are laid, to prevent them from becoming dirty or cracked, which could encourage egg-eating behavior in the chickens. It is also a good idea to move the fake eggs around the nesting boxes every so often, so that the chickens do not get used to their location and start pecking at the real eggs again.
Fake eggs can be a simple and effective solution to stop egg-eating in chickens. However, it’s important to note that this method is best used in combination with other methods such as providing a nutritious diet, making nesting boxes more comfortable, and offering distractions and entertainment. By using multiple techniques, you can ensure that your chickens are happy, healthy, and laying plenty of eggs for you to enjoy.
Identify and Remove the Egg Eater
If all of the above methods have failed to prevent egg-eating in your flock, it might be time to identify and remove the offending hen. One way to do this is by using the food coloring method. Simply fill an empty eggshell with food coloring and place it in the nesting box. After a few hours, check the chickens’ beaks and feathers for any signs of the colored dye. The hen with the colored beak or feathers is likely the culprit.
Once you have identified the egg eater, you have a few options. If you want to keep the hen in your flock, you can separate her from the others and provide her with her own space to lay eggs. This can help prevent her from eating the other chickens’ eggs. However, keep in mind that some chickens are more prone to egg-eating behavior than others, so even with separate nesting areas, she may continue to eat eggs.
If you decide to remove the egg-eating hen from your flock, you can either sell her or cull her. If you plan to sell her, make sure to disclose her egg-eating behavior to the buyer. If you plan to cull her, make sure to do so humanely and in a way that complies with local regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do chickens eat their own eggs? A: Chickens can eat their own eggs due to various reasons, including nutritional deficiencies, boredom, habit, and lack of nesting boxes.
Q: How can I stop my chickens from eating their own eggs? A: You can stop chickens from eating their own eggs by providing a nutritious diet that includes layer feed and oyster shells. Additionally, you can make the nesting boxes more comfortable by adding nesting mats, keeping them clean, and providing distractions such as toys, hanging treats, or a head of cabbage. Another method is to add fake eggs to the nesting boxes to trick the chickens into pecking at them instead of the real eggs.
Q: What kind of diet should I provide my chickens to prevent egg eating? A: You should provide your chickens with a high-quality layer feed that is specifically formulated for laying hens. This feed typically contains essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium, that your birds need to produce healthy eggs. You can also supplement their diet with oyster shells to prevent calcium deficiencies and offer treats like mealworms or cat food for additional protein.
Q: Can lack of nesting boxes cause chickens to eat their own eggs? A: Yes, if your hens don’t have enough nesting boxes or if the boxes are too crowded, they may start pecking at eggs out of frustration. Therefore, it is important to provide enough nesting boxes for your chickens.
Q: What can I do to make the nesting boxes more comfortable for my hens? A: You can make the nesting boxes more comfortable for your hens by adding nesting mats, ensuring they are clean and free of debris, and providing a rolling mechanism that allows the eggs to roll away from the hen after they are laid.
Conclusion
Egg-eating behavior in chickens can be frustrating and challenging to stop. Understanding why your chickens are eating their eggs is crucial to finding a solution. Nutritional deficiencies, boredom, habit, and lack of nesting boxes can all contribute to egg-eating.
To prevent this behavior, providing a nutritious diet, making nesting boxes more comfortable, offering distractions and entertainment, and adding fake eggs to the nesting boxes are all effective solutions. By implementing these strategies, you can help prevent egg-eating in your chickens, protect your egg supply, and keep your chickens happy and healthy.
