Egg Eating

[ducks4you]

First, try to collect their eggs mid afternoon, or as early after that as you can. That is when the flock is finished sharing their boxes and laying. Second, make SURE that your birds have free access to both grit and oyster shell calcium. The calcium in their feed isn't enough to ensure that the shells are thick enough. Once a thin shelled egg breaks, your hens WILL eat it. They seem to love their own eggs, but it doesn't mean that they will prefer it to their regular food. Also, see about adding healthy treats. I grew beets this year but I don't fancy the greens, so I give those to my birds. Haven't had a chicken yet that didn't like grass, and I pick it with my hands from the yard. I DON'T use any chemical sprays on my lawn, so it's safe for them. They eat the blades like spaghetti noodles--fun to watch. If your tomatoes have been frosted, don't compost them. Give them to your birds. They love soggy tomatoes! Every time you use sweet peppers, give the tops and seeds to your birds. The "treats" that aren't recommended are very few. Even stale bread is good for them, and will curb their appetite for their own eggs. Avoid feeding hot peppers, though!!
I know why you are asking. I started with one hen about 8-9 years ago. Then, I bought a clutch of 6, 5 roosters and one hen, and then I've added on. I spent 2 years straight on the sister site, BYC, and all new chicken owners, like me, were asking questions like this. None of us grew up with livestock, so it is all so new.
Soon, I'll be paring my flock down to 6 hens for the winter. I still need to finish my "turkey house", but it now has a light plugged into my tool shed with an outdoor timer and a 75 watt light. THAT is to extend their winter day to 13 hours, which is what they prefer to have to lay regularly. I need to take some pictures now and as I put on the front door and make the roosts, and post them for you'all!

 

[ninnymary]

Ducks, I usually collect eggs when they are still warm or at least within an hour of them laying. They have dishes with grit and oyster shell and their egg shells are pretty strong. I daily give them B.O.S.S. but will try to give them more of the treats that go into my compost pail.

It's my red sex link that is laying but she will walk away from the box with the egg in it. At least I know that she's not eating her own egg.

The curtain seems to help but again, I'm collecting that egg pretty fast and not letting it sit there for hours.

Mary

 

[ducks4you]

Don't worry, Mary. They WON'T eat them all!

 

[baymule]

You can give them hot peppers. @ducks4you I have given mine hot peppers. In fact, I scramble eggs for them and load it up with crushed red pepper about once a month. They don't taste the hot, and the pepper shocks the intestinal worms and they let go, passing out of the hens in their poo. Or at least that's what I have read. I have never wormed my hens using a chemical wormer.

 

[canesisters]

(peppers, DE, pumpkin seeds, apple cider vinegar, etc do not get rid of worms....)

 

[baymule]

(peppers, DE, pumpkin seeds, apple cider vinegar, etc do not get rid of worms....)

You are probably right cane. I've read and heard both sides of the discussion. DE will make horse hooves rock hard!

 

[Smart Red]

@canesisters, why are you whispering? Do you have a sore throat? A pumpkin seed stuck?

 

[canesisters]

... on some sites, making a statement like that could cause a huge argument..

Shoulda known better here though. TEG folks just aren't like that.

 

[ninnymary]

Argggg...thought the curtain was working but NO! Found my speckle sussex in the nest box, egg broken, and yolk on her beak! How in the heck did she know the egg was there if she could'nt see it!

I will put in 3 golf balls to see if that helps. I really don't want to give my husband another project like that roll out nest box.

Mary

 

[Ridgerunner]

It would be your Speckled Sussex. I know you really wanted one of those.

Good luck. The only time I've had a hen actually open eggs to eat it was a Delaware I really wanted to breed, but when I figured out it was her I ate her. But I'm a lot more ruthless than you.