They are eating their eggs

[Gersbud]

How do I stop my chickens from eating their own eggs.
I have 25 chickens and I am lucky to get 2 maybe 3 eggs
in a day. HELP!!

 

[bigzio]

Gersbud, Welcome to BYC. Increase the protein in their diet. Chickens demand alot of protein and simple treats like dry cat food and oil sunflower seeds that are 30% protein will help. Make sure your layer feed has at least 16% protein.

Darken the nests by hanging material in front with a slit for the hens to enter through.
Hens that can't see easy eggs to eat don't eat them. Hope this helps, I know it works.

bigzio

 

[Varisha]

Quote:
Question: by "oil sunflower seeds" do you mean black oil sunflower seeds ? (called BOSS in the horse world)

 

[Gersbud]

Thanks so much for your input. Going to go and try that out tonight

 

[marie_martin]

yes, black oil sunflower seeds, or BOSS, also used in the goat world!!

Marie

 

[wynedot55]

if you can collect the eggs 2 or 3 times a day.an that will slow them from eating them.unless they eat emm as fast as they are layed.if it dont stop you can cull your egg eaters.

 

[mudhen]

This short article on why hens eat eggs is very interesting.
It is published by Kansas State University and worth reading:

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/EP70.pdf

 

[chasehope]

one of mine was doing that, so they got lots of catfood, hardboiled eggs, and black oil sunflower seeds and she stopped withing 2 days. Good luck, it does work!

 

[Gersbud]

Gave them cat food and changed their feed to a higher protein. Got 4 eggs today.
There seems to be hope for them yet!:


Well today is another day and to my surprise I found 6 eggs, 5 brown and 1 aracauna, who haven't layed eggs
in over 3 weeks.

Thanks all for the help!!!!!!

 

[bigzio]

Gersbud, congrats on the fresh eggs. Close management of the flock is priceless and the rewards taste great too! Glad it's going better.

bigzio