How to Stop Chickens From Eating Their Eggs

Four eggs again—I couldn’t believe this. I knew some of our hens were slowing down as they approached five years old and were not laying as consistently, but FOUR eggs out of 15 chickens didn’t seem right.

I do have eight young hens now mixed in with my older hens because I really didn’t want to keep feeding hens that weren’t laying eggs through the winter. I know that one of those new hens has started laying, but I’m not sure about the others.

Then, this morning, when I woke up a little earlier than normal and trudged out to the barn on this cloudy fall day, I saw it: Penny, our only leghorn chicken, eating an egg!

Later in the day, I went to the nesting box to grab the eggs, and just a little bit of shell was left, and a nice gooey yoke was all over the one and only egg left.

I knew it. I probably had possible hens eating their own and other hens’ eggs.

I’ve been raising chickens for over ten years and have dealt with this once before. So here’s how we are going to stop this.

In today’s economy, no one wants to pay to feed chickens and not get any eggs out of it.

Let’s go back a few months when I knew my hens weren’t getting the most calcium. We were getting thin shells, of course this can be because of the age of the hens too. I was feeding the cheap Producer’s Pride from Tractor Supply and thought maybe it was that food.

Then I decided to supplement with Oster shells, too. When an egg with a soft shell is brought into the nesting box by another hen and it cracks or breaks, it becomes more appealing to the other hens. Then they get a taste of it, and you may have a problem.

In the past, I’ve thrown eggs to the pigs, and a chicken will come running to eat them as well, but this doesn’t always mean they are going to break eggs and eat them.

The most common reasons I’ve found hens to be eating their eggs are:

Nutritional Deficiencies

A hen needs calcium to support egg laying. Protein is also essential, and you want to find a layer feed with at least 16% protein. Most layer feeds start at 16%.

You can buy Oyster shells at most feed stores if your hens aren’t getting enough calcium. You can also cook your eggshells in the oven, grind them up tiny, and feed them in with your hen’s pellets. I take a rolling pin and run it over the shells.

You can also buy higher protein feeds at your feed store. I like to buy a bag of black oil sunflower seeds. These are really beneficial for all our livestock. This can help with boredom too.

Chickens are Molting

This sort of times into the nutritional deficiencies because our chickens are molting in the fall, and a higher amount of protein in their diets is beneficial. It’s not always necessary, but depending on the breed, environment, and what type of feed you are giving, supplementing during molting with a higher protein feed is sometimes needed.

The Nutrena Feather Fixer can work for egg-eating hens and molting hens.

Hens are Bored

If you have your chickens in a small space, they may be getting bored. There are actually a bunch of good DIY chicken toys you can use.

Not Enough Water

This is really important for some many reasons, but sticking to our post today, keeping the water full at all times is crucial. I’ll also add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to boost the hens health in our gallon waterers.

Bad Nesting Box

If you have a bunch of hens, they may be fighting over the nesting box area, and this can lead to eggs breaking and then chickens eating them. Also if you don’t have enough straw or bedding in the nesting box they may just crack on the surface they are laid on.

I always use straw in our nesting boxes and then shavings in the coop area. Our chickens have a pretty large run area, so they are only inside at night, and then on snowy days.

When you do find a broken egg and the yoke is all over remove everything from that nesting box. You can toss it in your compost pile, or I give it all to the pigs.

Not Collecting Eggs

If possible it’s best to collect your eggs earlier in the day. Depending on when your chickens lay eggs and your schedule it may not be feasible. If you can’t collect them early enough, before your naughty egg eating hen gets after it, you can try adding a fake egg or a golf ball into the nesting box.

The idea is that she will peck and peck, and nothing will come out. If you have other eggs lying around, this probably won’t do the trick. Either way, it’d be fun to catch her trying it, though!

Move Them

If all of the above fails and the chicken still eats eggs, separate her into her own pen for a week. I like to keep an extra large dog crate to keep chickens separate. If that fails, you know what they say, Hen Stew!

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding Egg-Eating Behavior: Egg-eating can occur due to nutritional deficiencies, boredom, or environmental factors. Identifying the root cause is essential for addressing the issue effectively.
• Nutritional Needs: Ensuring hens receive adequate calcium and protein is crucial. Consider supplementing their diet with oyster shells or high-protein feeds.
• Managing Environment: A well-maintained nesting area with sufficient bedding can prevent eggs from cracking. Providing toys and ensuring ample space can reduce boredom-related issues.
• Routine and Monitoring: Collecting eggs frequently and using decoy eggs can discourage hens from developing a taste for their own eggs.

Checklist to Prevent and Manage Egg-Eating:

Grab my favorite backyard chicken keeping binder!

1. Evaluate Diet:
   • Provide a balanced diet with at least 16% protein.
   • Supplement with oyster shells or ground eggshells for calcium.
2. Enhance the Environment:
   • Ensure nesting boxes are comfortable and well-bedded.
   • Introduce DIY toys or enrichments to reduce boredom.
3. Maintain Routine:
   • Collect eggs early and often to minimize temptation.
   • Use fake eggs or golf balls in nesting boxes to deter pecking.
4. Hydration and Health:
   • Keep waterers full and consider adding apple cider vinegar for health benefits.
5. Observation and Adjustment:
   • Monitor hens for egg-eating behavior and make necessary adjustments in diet or environment.
   • Regularly review feeding practices and nesting conditions to ensure optimal conditions for laying.

Implementing these steps can help maintain a productive and happy flock, minimizing the issue of egg-eating.