Chickens eating eggs problem one you experience too? Let me show you the Ingenius hack we discovered. We purchased chicks in the spring of 2022, and we were looking forward to having fresh eggs again. You know you have to wait and wait till the chicks are big enough to lay right? Along comes September and the eggs should be appearing any time and they do. Unfortunately, the chickens decided they liked their own eggs! I went on a mission to figure out how to keep my chickens from eating their own eggs.
Some Suggestions from the Local Feed Store
After going to the local feed store and asking my friends over there, they suggested that the chickens might be bored and lacking in calcium. This spurred the purchase of a “pecking block” and some oyster shells, which are crushed.
Wonder Why Chickens Eating Eggs Happens?
Chickens may eat their own eggs for a variety of reasons. One common reason is a lack of sufficient nutrition in their diet. If a chicken is not getting enough of certain nutrients, it may try to compensate by eating its own eggs. Eggs are a rich source of protein and other nutrients.
Another reason for chickens eating eggs is that they are not getting enough to eat overall. Chickens are social animals and typically enjoy foraging and scavenging for food. If a chicken is not getting enough to eat, it may try to supplement its diet by eating its own eggs.
Sometimes, chickens may also eat their own eggs if they are kept in a small, crowded space with limited access to food. Chickens that are kept in an environment with too much light can experience a disruption in their natural laying cycle. It also causes them to become more aggressive.
Boredom and/or as a result of a behavioral issue can cause the chickens eating eggs problem. Chickens are intelligent animals and can become frustrated or stressed if they do not have enough stimulation or opportunities to engage in natural behaviors. This can sometimes lead to behaviors such as egg-eating.
To prevent chickens from eating their own eggs, it is important to provide them with a balanced and nutritious diet. They also need plenty of space to roam and forage. And they need opportunities for mental and physical stimulation. Additionally, providing chickens with a secure, safe place to lay their eggs can help discourage egg-eating behavior.
What We Did to Fix the Chickens Eating Eggs Problem
What we tried to fix the chickens eating eggs problem was to open up the coop so that they could free range in the yard. Though we do have two dogs and three cats – the animals all seem to do fine together (we only have 4 chickens, and they are all hens). We did have to chicken proof the fence. After giving them free range of the yard, getting them a flock block and the oyster shells, we were expecting our 4 eggs a day. Well, let me tell you I was disappointed. It is probably just one of the hens who is attacking the eggs, but it was getting super frustrating. In mid-December I made mention of this egg problem on Facebook. One of my friends, who is also our favorite local chiropractor, mentioned putting golf balls in the coop. This is genius I thought!!
BUT our chickens lay brown eggs, so this might not work so well. We did, however, have walnuts. They are about the same shade of brown. We’ve also made a big effort to get fresh (not frozen) water out to the chickens before the sun comes up. I was wondering if the lack of fresh water might be encouraging them to eat the eggs. It has also been extremely cold lately, so the chickens move from the coop to the greenhouse fairly early in the day. Adding the walnuts has made all the difference. I routinely get 4 eggs a day now even though it is the middle of winter.
Be sure to follow us on Pinterest for more homestead hacks and tips.
Find this on Amazon: