We've got an egg-eater on our hands...😤

[Farrari]

I've tried the mustard trick on my egg eating chicken, they seem to love it. It's gone within an hour or so from me putting it in the box. I've tried the regular mustard and Dijon mustard. They love both.
I was thinking of getting a bunch of plastic eggs and see if that would confuse them enough.
I only have 9 laying chicken( Jersey Giant and white colombian) and one rooster. I live in Central Ontario and they will not leave the Coop in the winter, the first site of snow and they're in for the winter.
Any ideas would be appreciated.

Powdered mustard sprinkled in nest box worked for me but chickens don’t mind a bit of spice

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I don't see why mustard would work when they will eat the hottest of peppers with alacrity. Supposedly they do not have the receptors to discern heat. Do you have fake eggs like golf balls in the nests, and do you gather eggs several times a day? I did that and caught two egg-eaters in the act. I hollered at them, they squawked in terror like a couple of guilty kids and fled the coop, and NEVER committed the crime again.

 

[alsaulnier]

Powdered mustard sprinkled in nest box worked for me but chickens don’t mind a bit of spice

I'll give it a try, it can't hurt. Thanks

 

[alsaulnier]

I don't see why mustard would work when they will eat the hottest of peppers with alacrity. Supposedly they do not have the receptors to discern heat. Do you have fake eggs like golf balls in the nests, and do you gather eggs several times a day? I did that and caught two egg-eaters in the act. I hollered at them, they squawked in terror like a couple of guilty kids and fled the coop, and NEVER committed the crime again.

I've tried golf balls, they don't seem bother with them. Maybe because they're white, my chicken lay brown eggs. With Easter around the corner, I'm hoping to find some brown plastic eggs.

 

[alsaulnier]

You might try another condiment?

I'll try ketchup, I know they don't like anything red.
Thanks

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Um, they LOVE red! That's why you put Blu-Kote on an injury, to keep them from pecking a wounded chicken to death.

 

[Farrari]

I don't see why mustard would work when they will eat the hottest of peppers with alacrity. Supposedly they do not have the receptors to discern heat. Do you have fake eggs like golf balls in the nests, and do you gather eggs several times a day? I did that and caught two egg-eaters in the act. I hollered at them, they squawked in terror like a couple of guilty kids and fled the coop, and NEVER committed the crime again.

Neither do I but it’s worked for me for 60 odd years without fail and for my grandparents before me-maybe it gets up their nose….

 

[talkinboutchickens]

I don't see why mustard would work when they will eat the hottest of peppers with alacrity. Supposedly they do not have the receptors to discern heat. Do you have fake eggs like golf balls in the nests, and do you gather eggs several times a day? I did that and caught two egg-eaters in the act. I hollered at them, they squawked in terror like a couple of guilty kids and fled the coop, and NEVER committed the crime again.

Yeah, I do go out every day..And I think I found the egg eater...Rose! She has yolk all over her head and neck and the others do not. I could use golf balls, but aren't they probably too smart to fall for that? I mean, golf balls are white and round, and my chicken's eggs are longer and tan..But I can try it and see what happens

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Neither do I but it’s worked for me for 60 odd years without fail and for my grandparents before me-maybe it gets up their nose….

That's a good point! But wouldn't it prevent them from laying in the nests altogether?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yeah, I do go out every day..And I think I found the egg eater...Rose! She has yolk all over her head and neck and the others do not. I could use golf balls, but aren't they probably too smart to fall for that? I mean, golf balls are white and round, and my chicken's eggs are longer and tan..But I can try it and see what happens

Golf balls have always worked for me. And a lot of other BYCers as well. In fact I use the bright yellow ones so they don't fool me! I like the texture so if I have to reach under a hen I can tell the golf balls from the actual eggs by feel.