2 fold question. Egg eater & not laying in box

[HobbyHouse]

I got 2 new to me laying hens a week ago.
They are quarantining in a seperate coop, that's all good.

My issue is. One of or both if them have started eating the eggs they lay, but only the broken ones.
They also have never laid in a box. At their old house their box was above the floor, below the roost and they would lay underneath.

At my house they lay wherever the heck they feel like, dig right to the Wood floor, and literally drop an egg, so it cracks.
Now my issue is that one has started eating said cracked egg.
I've lost 2 to eating far.

I have a current nesting box set up in a dark corner on the floor, lots of bedding that they have kicked out. I added a golf ball to said box, they kick it out. But I leave it there.
Stupid question, but since they lay brown eggs should i get a fake brown egg, do they knoe the golf ball "isn't theirs".
They have free access to oyster shell, the 2 of them have a 200sqft run to themselves. Lots of stuff to dig, and snack on, etc. They actually seem quite happy in their new spot.

I am not sure if its the stress of the move and we are still sorting things out? Or if I have a problem.

Would love any advice you have!

 

[nuthatched]

Can you pad the nest box floor? It could be their breed or diet.

 

[HobbyHouse]

Can you pad the nest box floor? It could be their breed or diet.

I have done that.

They lay anywhere but in it....

These are them. I think thw white one is a leghorn/legbar cross of some sort not sure of the other one.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Normal for chickens to eat eggs that are cracked or broken, it's a different issue if they're deliberately breaking them to eat them.

The fake egg color doesn't matter. You could have a rainbow of golf balls and the chickens won't really care.

Can we see photos of the nest box set up?

 

[HobbyHouse]

Normal for chickens to eat eggs that are cracked or broken, it's a different issue if they're deliberately breaking them to eat them.

The fake egg color doesn't matter. You could have a rainbow of golf balls and the chickens won't really care.

Can we see photos of the nest box set up?

Caught one in the act this morning.
She eventually lowered her bum and I got the egg and no crack.

This is what we have for now. It has a solid bottom. And they do lay down in there they just move when they drop their eggs.

I have also moved the box to every corner that they lay in, and they just move.

According to their previous owner they never used the box.

I'm hoping once integrated with my other chickens they will use the boxes.

 

[HobbyHouse]

Normal for chickens to eat eggs that are cracked or broken, it's a different issue if they're deliberately breaking them to eat them.

The fake egg color doesn't matter. You could have a rainbow of golf balls and the chickens won't really care.

Can we see photos of the nest box set up?

And thank you about the egg eating, that is what's happening. Only to broken eggs.
That makes me feel much better

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have also moved the box to every corner that they lay in, and they just move.

I'm hoping once integrated with my other chickens they will use the boxes.

Hmm have you tried a box at each corner they've been favoring? Instead of moving a single one around.

Lack of lip on the box is why they're kicking out the fakes. You want at least a few inches (some recommend as much as 4-6") across the bottom of the front opening to keep bedding, eggs and fake eggs in.

Yes hopefully it will help to have other birds who are laying in boxes to give them the hint, but you never know how it'll go until they're actually integrated in.

 

[Farrari]

The laying box needs to be dark- ie., cloaked at the front, mine are integral to a custom made chicken house but you could get individual roll back ones, problem solved as the eggs aren’t there to be eaten