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Barnyard Buddies:  Egg Eating Hens  |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 29 2010 : 3:35:50 PM
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My friend Sarah wants me to ask ya'll if you know why her hens are eating every single egg as soon s they are laid. She has notgotten eggs in a long time. She said she cleans the nests daily and sees signs of shells and the messy yolk on the straw. So She knows they are laying. She just can't get to them every time they lay. They are penned up in a good size run and coop. Fed daily. She is just upset she gets none of the eggs anymore.
Any help or suggestions would be great. Thanks so much.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Melina
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Melina
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Oct 29 2010 : 4:01:00 PM
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Make the nests darker, with curtains. Watch for a day (it's worth it, take a book) and see if a rooster is getting into the nests. If there's one biddy doing the deed, seriously consider having her for Sunday dinner. Buy plaster or wooden eggs to put in the nest, then watch who tries to break it, then see above. Egg eaters are not tolerated around here. And don't bother with hot sauce, they like it.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Oct 29 2010 : 4:06:05 PM
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Some of them get a taste for it and there is no stopping them, in my limited experience. Melina is right. Chicken and dumplins is about the only answer for an egg eater...sorry =(
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Palouse Prairie Girls Chapter
http://palouseprairiegirls.blogspot.com/
http://prairiegirlsjournal.blogspot.com/
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Oct 29 2010 : 8:00:58 PM
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hi girls, if you have the nests dark it does help. bored chickens will do this. chickens lacking someting in diet will do this AND those bad hens. take a day and check the nests often. you want to watch the beeks for egg yolk stuck to them. kill the egg eaters. they teach the others to do it too. this time of year they can use extra fat. suet bacon skin. something to enrich their diet. sunflower seeds help. just a thought happy days sherye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
Posted - Oct 30 2010 : 11:50:53 AM
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I never heard of this. Thanks for sharing so I can be prepared if this ever does happen with ours.
Farmgirl #800
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Oct 30 2010 : 3:00:22 PM
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It could be they need more calcium. Try feeding oyster shell which makes the egg shells harder. I find that if I keep oyster shell out I have far less trouble with egg eaters.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Oct 30 2010 : 3:57:18 PM
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Thank you all so much. I have written all this down and will let her know. She homeschools and milks 2 cows and has grand kids too. So she is pretty busy. I'll tell her to take a book out there and sit. But it's hard for her to sit, so that might not work. She might need to put one of the grands out there. Thanks.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2010 : 05:55:08 AM
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Good information, I was just going to post this same question. Our hens finally started laying again (long story) and when I went out to collect eggs the other day, our youngest bird (hatched out naturally in June) was trying to eat them!!! I haven't seen her do it again, but I have heard that once they get a taste for it its hard to stop them. So thanks Kris for posting the question and thanks everyone for the suggestions. :)
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com |
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peachy
True Blue Farmgirl
593 Posts
Melissa
Fennville
MI
USA
593 Posts |
Posted - Nov 03 2010 : 7:24:46 PM
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Good information!! I'm going to set up camp in my hen house this weekend! I just noticed over the last couple days I have a few broken eggs in the nests...now to catch the one in the act!
Melissa
Farmgirl Sister #360
http://bluejeancountry.etsy.com/
http://oldethymecountrybarn.blogspot.com/
Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain! |
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Barnyard Buddies: Egg Eating Hens |
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Egg Eating Hens
