Sometimes breeding poultry is like being in constant battle. Ask any chicken enthusiast and they’ll tell you – there is always a challenge or a fight on your hands.
The last thing we need is our very own chooks fighting against us. Fortunately, egg-eating is a battle that can be easily won!
My name is Poultry Pete, I’ve been rearing and showing purebred poultry for over 45 years and have tried and tested DOZENS of different strategies to combat this frustrating habit.
Here are my top 10 proven, highly effective strategies to stop those egg-eating chickens!
- Remove the offending bird
- Change up their typical feed
- Open the runs and let them roam the yard
- Collect eggs more often
- Darken their nests
- The golf ball disguise
- Give them some goodies and treats
- The polystyrene disguise
- Mix them up with mustard
- A roll away nest
The Egg Eating Fiasco
Be it a hungry fox, a dog on the loose or feral birds eating your feed, it is very tempting at times to find caring for chickens all too much. We poultry fanciers must be a tough breed as we seem to bounce back every time and why?
Because we love our birds too much to give them up.
Most of these problems can be anticipated and systems put in place to combat most of these. But one of the most frustrating challenges I seem to face early in the breeding season is egg-eating. It is like a smoking habit for chooks. Once they get a taste of omelette, it is terribly hard to break. I have used a variety of mind-boggling approaches to break this pernicious habit that I hope will be of benefit to you.
You know your fowls are egg-eating when the birds have fat bottoms, the feed hopper is not emptying so quickly, the crests look a bit sticky at the front and you find little bits of shell in the nest and it’s your Champion bird doing it! AAAAARGHH!
Why do chickens eat their own eggs?
Boredom
Firstly, let’s look at the issue from the hen’s point of view. Now, although chooks are not the smartest animal, they can become bored.
Think about it. You’ve been cooped up all Winter because your owner doesn’t want you to have fun in a muddy run. You’re getting fat and the four walls are all too familiar when suddenly, you feel the urge to sit and out pops a smooth round thingy from your behind.
Curiosity gets the better of you, you check it out with your beak, get a taste and it’s a divine take away dinner. Get the picture?
Not in their natural habitat
Yep, you guessed it, chooks weren’t always domesticated. In fact, they used to roam free in forests and grassland before we adopted them as our beloved companions.
Hens not only lay best when we replicate their natural habit, but they are also MUCH less likely to egg-eat. The better we can replicate this environment, the lower our birds’ stress will be, making for birds that leave their eggs alone.
Lacking nutrition
Do you feed you birds the same pellets ongoing without changing it up? If so, there’s every chance your chooks are lacking some nutrition such as protein or calcium.
Therefore, they may turn to eggs in order to quell these deficiencies.
The 10 Strategies to Stop Egg-eating Chickens
1. Remove the Offending Bird
If you can identify the rebel early, hopefully, she hasn’t taught the others. Put her in solitary confinement for ‘re-education’.
However, chooks won’t always make it obvious when they’re doing the deed. You might have to inspect each one of your bird’s beaks, seeing if you can spot any remnants of the eggs.
Another strategy I use requires a little bit of stealth, detective work and unfortunately, PATIENCE. Put your feet up, take some time out and observe your birds for 30-60 minutes, keeping an eye out for the offender!
2. Change Up their Typical Feed
As I mentioned earlier, a big driver of chickens eating their eggs is due to a lack of nutrition. Try changing up their feed every so often to keep them from having a wandering eye towards that omelette.
Shell-grit and higher quality feed are important as egg production increases. This will ensure your birds are getting their fix of protein and calcium.
My chickens go BANANAS over Red Hen 17, pecking and scratching as if it’s Christmas!
3. Open the Runs and Let them Roam the Yard
Allow the birds to forage the yard, giving them a chance to pick at worms and insects. Not only does this decrease boredom and stress, but also adds to the breadth and depth of their nutrition.
You’ll be surprised how your birds start leaving those eggs alone when they’re allowed to roam free more often.
4. Collect Eggs more Often
This one’s simple – if there’s no eggs to eat, then you’re chooks won’t eat them.
Not only does collecting eggs decrease the chances of your eggs being targeted, but you’ll notice that your chooks begin to lose interest when there are fewer eggs available for less time each day.
Chickens lay almost all of their eggs by midday, so regular morning collecting is a MUST.
5. Darken their Nests
Back when chickens roamed the earth freely, they laid their eggs in dark, comfortable nests, away from threats and disruptions. The more you can replicate a familiar environment with ample straw and shredded paper, the better.
Darkening nests replicate conditions in the wild, which reduces the urge to peck and instead encourages the instinct to lay & reproduce. Darkening their pens will actually decrease the chances of them even seeing their freshly laid beauties in the first place.
6. The Golf Ball Disguise
Go down to your local op shop and grab yourself a bag of golf balls. A hard ‘egg’ is a bit tough on a curious beak. Your birds will get the picture, eggs aren’t so tasty anymore.
7. Give them some Goodies & Treats
Load up the greens, hang Lucerne, comfrey or dangle some tasty sirloin or topside for them to pick at. Again, this will decrease boredom, increase nutrition, and keep the birds from stealing your scrambled egg brekky.
8. The Polystyrene Disguise
This one’s similar to the golf ball method. Birds just love to pick at it tufts of polystyrene, however, they’ll soon give up once they realize it no longer tastes yummy.
It does them no harm, gives them something to do and gets squirted out the other end without any trouble.
9. Mix them up with Mustard
Now I hope by now that at least one of the previous 8 methods has worked a treat. But if you’re got a stubborn bunch, try this cheeky strategy.
Fill an empty egg with mustard or chilli or, even Vicks vapour rub. It may seem a little full-on, but it’ll work wonders. Your birds won’t go near those eggs ever again.
10. A Roll-away Nest
And finally number 10, a roll away nest. These can be made relatively easily and cheaply by constructing a false bottom in the nesting box. Position at a slight angle so that the egg rolls out of harm’s way. Your other option is purchasing one.
Not only does this stop your birds from egg eating, but also makes it a lot easier to collect eggs each day if you’re short on time.