Egg eating is a frustrating problem for many chicken keepers. When hens start pecking at and eating their own eggs, it not only reduces your fresh egg supply but can also turn into a bad habit that spreads quickly among the flock. Fortunately, with some smart management and simple strategies, you can stop chickens from eating their eggs and keep your coop running smoothly.
Why Do Chickens Eat Their Own Eggs?
Understanding why chickens eat eggs is the first step to stopping it. Common reasons include:
– Nutritional deficiencies: Lack of enough protein or calcium in their diet can cause hens to seek these nutrients by eating eggs.
– Boredom: Chickens stuck in cramped or unstimulating environments may peck at eggs out of curiosity or habit.
– Accidental discovery: Sometimes a broken egg tempts a curious hen to try the yolk, and once she tastes it, the behavior can become habitual.
– Environmental stress: Overcrowding, poor nesting conditions, or stress can contribute to egg eating.
Addressing these causes is key to prevention and control.
How to Stop Chickens from Eating Their Eggs
1. Collect Eggs Frequently
Collect eggs multiple times a day, ideally early in the morning and again later. The less time eggs spend in the nest, the lower the chance hens will peck at them. Most hens finish laying by mid-morning, so collecting eggs promptly reduces temptation.
2. Provide Proper Nutrition
Ensure your flock’s diet is balanced and rich in calcium and protein. Calcium strengthens eggshells, making eggs less likely to crack and attract pecking. Protein helps satisfy dietary needs so hens are less tempted to eat eggs for nutrients. You can supplement with oyster shells, fish meal, or high-protein feed like game bird feed.
3. Design Comfortable and Dark Nesting Boxes
– Use soft bedding like straw or wood shavings to cushion eggs and prevent breakage.
– Provide one nesting box for every 4-5 hens to reduce overcrowding.
– Hang curtains or covers around the nesting boxes to darken them. Chickens can’t see well in the dark, so this discourages pecking at eggs inside the nest.
4. Use Dummy Eggs or Repellent Eggs
Place fake eggs such as golf balls or wooden eggs in the nest boxes. When hens peck at these hard, unbreakable eggs, they may lose interest in pecking real eggs.
Another popular method is to prepare “repellent eggs” by blowing out real eggs and filling them with mustard or dish soap, substances chickens dislike. Placing these in the nest boxes teaches hens that eggs taste bad, helping break the habit.
5. Keep the Coop Clean and Stress-Free
Regularly clean the coop and nesting areas to avoid egg residue buildup that attracts pecking. Avoid bright lights near nests and minimize disturbances to hens while they lay. Providing enough space, fresh water, and outdoor access reduces stress, which can otherwise trigger egg eating.
6. Remove Broody or Persistent Egg Eaters
Broody hens can crowd nests and increase egg breakage, so relocating them can help. If a particular hen continues to eat eggs despite all interventions, consider removing her from the flock to prevent the behavior from spreading.
Additional Tips
– Remove excess nesting material so eggs roll away when pecked, making it harder for hens to break them open.
– Avoid feeding crushed eggshells whole; if you feed them for calcium, crush them into powder so hens don’t associate shells with eggs to eat.
– Provide enrichment like free-ranging or scratch areas to reduce boredom-driven pecking.
Egg eating can be a tough habit to break, but by combining good nutrition, proper coop management, frequent egg collection, and clever deterrents, you can protect your eggs and keep your chickens healthy and happy.
Stop egg eating early, and your flock will reward you with plenty of fresh eggs for years to come!