Chickens won’t stop eating eggs

[zalena]

Hi everyone,

We added 3 chickens to our established flock last fall. We’ve never had egg eating problems until one of the newbies started eating eggs and taught it to the others. Of our 9 chickens, we think 7 are engaging in this.

We feed them high-quality feed and treats, and have oyster shells available.

We’ve put blinders on the first egg eater, have put fake wooden eggs in their nesting boxes, and have switched to roll away boxes. Nothing has worked. They seem to be getting more aggressive about it.

My husband witnessed a few chickens standing on/around one of the hens who was about to lay an egg and they pounced on it the second she laid it (before it could roll away).

We aren’t sure what to do/try next and are becoming frustrated.

 

[GodLovesU]

There’s a few other ideas in this article.

 

[nuthatched]

What's their complete diet, including treats?
Have you tried filling eggs with yellow or orange dish soap?

 

[zalena]

What's their complete diet, including treats?
Have you tried filling eggs with yellow or orange dish soap?

They have the Modesto Mills organic, soy-free, corn-free layer pellets. Vegetable/fruit scraps from the kitchen, and crushed oyster shells.

We did an egg filled with Dawn dish soap and a few filled with mustard. They all disappeared.

 

[GodLovesU]

They have the Modesto Mills organic, soy-free, corn-free layer pellets. Vegetable/fruit scraps from the kitchen, and crushed oyster shells.

We did an egg filled with Dawn dish soap and a few filled with mustard. They all disappeared.

I guess they like dish soap too.

 

[nuthatched]

They have the Modesto Mills organic, soy-free, corn-free layer pellets. Vegetable/fruit scraps from the kitchen, and crushed oyster shells.

We did an egg filled with Dawn dish soap and a few filled with mustard. They all disappeared.

Keep doing it.
What's the feeds protein,

 

[McChooky]

I feed my chickens 16 % layer crumbles or pellets from Kalmbach and get all the eggs I need .My 12 hens are ages 2,3 and 4 years old. My dogs get raw eggs twice a day and the chickens get eggs 3 X a week if I have any extra.Your chickens may have another deficiency

 

[zalena]

Keep doing it.
What's the feeds protein,

it’s 17% protein. This is from their website:

• Chicken feed contain vitamins, minerals, and the amino acids your flock needs to thrive.
• Prebiotics, probiotics, and toxin binders support your barnyard buddies’ digestive and immune health.
• Included essential oils, kelp, and zeolite have antioxidant and antimicrobial attributes that encourage your chicks’ immune health.
• It’s made with an organic blend of flower extracts that promote vibrant egg yolks.
• Organic micro pellets are formulated without corn or soy and contain natural vitamin E for easier absorption.

 

[zalena]

I feed my chickens 16 % layer crumbles or pellets from Kalmbach and get all the eggs I need .My 12 hens are ages 2,3 and 4 years old. My dogs get raw eggs twice a day and the chickens get eggs 3 X a week if I have any extra.Your chickens may have another deficiency

This feed has so much good stuff in it…

• Chicken feed contain vitamins, minerals, and the amino acids your flock needs to thrive.
• Prebiotics, probiotics, and toxin binders support your barnyard buddies’ digestive and immune health.
• Included essential oils, kelp, and zeolite have antioxidant and antimicrobial attributes that encourage your chicks’ immune health.
• It’s made with an organic blend of flower extracts that promote vibrant egg yolks.
• Organic micro pellets are formulated without corn or soy and contain natural vitamin E for easier absorption.

Do you know what kind of deficiencies they might have that aren’t covered by this feed?

 

[nuthatched]

it’s 17% protein. This is from their website:

• Chicken feed contain vitamins, minerals, and the amino acids your flock needs to thrive.
• Prebiotics, probiotics, and toxin binders support your barnyard buddies’ digestive and immune health.
• Included essential oils, kelp, and zeolite have antioxidant and antimicrobial attributes that encourage your chicks’ immune health.
• It’s made with an organic blend of flower extracts that promote vibrant egg yolks.
• Organic micro pellets are formulated without corn or soy and contain natural vitamin E for easier absorption.

Keep the soap eggs up, it could just be a bad habit.