We’ve been having a little problem lately – an egg eating chicken. Chickens will eat insects, fruits, vegetables, greens, and just about anything else – including their own eggs (they’re omnivorous).
But having chickens that eat their own eggs is obviously not good for chicken keepers – we want those eggs!
Chickens can develop a taste for eggs in a number of ways, perhaps they lay a weak egg or they are startled and accidentally break an egg, or they become calcium deficient and try supplementing their diet with egg shell.
However it happens, they can quickly learn that the inside of the egg tastes great. Once one bird learns to intentionally break and eat eggs, the rest of the flock can catch on and start copying the original offender incredibly fast.
a hen with eggs in her nest
So, it’s very important to monitor the flock and make sure that any egg eating behaviors are dealt with quickly. If anyone is eating eggs, you’ll usually see evidence of it – they generally can’t get every last bit of the egg yolk eaten. And if you’re watching carefully, you’ll catch the perpetrator with the evidence on her beak (a little bit of yellow residue).
check carefully for yellow residue on the beak
If it’s just one chicken, and you can catch her before others start imitating her behavior, then it often works to just isolate her from the rest of the flock, and remove her egg each day as soon as she lays it. She’ll generally forget about egg eating after a few days. Most chickens have incredibly short memories.
egg-eater in solitary
If the problem is worse and several chickens have developed a taste for eggs, then more drastic measures are necessary. One technique is to take a raw egg or two, blow it out (do this by making small holes at the top and bottom of the shell, and use a drinking straw to blow it out), and refill it with mustard – something chickens hate.
Offer the mustard eggs to your chickens, and they should definitely turn up their beaks at that egg variety. Repeat this until they stop their egg eating behavior. Of course, the easiest way to avoid an egg eating problem is to prevent it from starting in the first place. The following are good practices for preventing birds from developing a bad habit:
- Make sure they’re not calcium deficient – offer them free choice oyster shell (oyster shell is very high in calcium).
- Provide enough nest boxes and stock the nest boxes with fake eggs (golf balls work) if necessary to encourage your hens to always lay inside the boxes. This keeps the eggs better protected and it’s less likely an egg will accidentally break.
- Collect the eggs frequently so that the hens don’t have temptation in front of them all day. It can also help to put a small “curtain” at the front of the nest boxes so the hens don’t readily see the eggs in the nest boxes.
- Feed them healthy table scraps and treats regularly. Insure the hens get a varied and interesting diet in addition to their regular layers feed.
- Make sure they’re not bored – a bored hen might decide to peck an egg just for the fun of it. Make sure they have room to roam, things to peck at, and lots of roosts (or something similar) to climb on.
Katie says
Thank you for this helpful post. I’ve heard of the mustard trick and just tried it today for the first time. 2 of the chickens didn’t like it and were turned off but one didn’t mind at all! Ahh! Unfortunately, I didn’t realize they were eating eggs until at least 3 of my 6 birds developed a taste for it. I’ve got some ceramic eggs in the coop now hoping that will encourage them to ignore the eggs.
I wondered, have you ever tried a soapy mixture? I’ve heard of people trying that for chickens that aren’t turned off by the mustard. Wondering if it’s safe in small amounts?
Thanks!!
julia says
Mine free range, aren’t overcrowded and have lots of treats, but one eats her own egg every day . I will try the mustard and otherwise isolate her. She came with the habit and have tried everything else! Fingers crossed
Lesa says
Hope it works Julia!
Tiffini says
I have 1 hen that is eating her egg, I work all day so I can’t check to see when she’s laid. I give them crushed egg shells as an extra source of calcium, I may have to try the mustard technique , Maybe curtains will help but im thinking she eats it right after she’s laid it…. Thanks for all the tips!
Sylvie says
Sigh. 2 of mine are eating their eggs everyday and they don’t seem to mind mustard at all. I’ve done the mustard egg approach 4 days in a row with no luck. I can’t figure out when they are laying so grab them real quick. I’m at mt wits end. Any other ideas? I don’t want to trim their beaks. And I would prefer not to have to get rid of them.
Janine Zschech says
Point number 6 should be: Increase their protein.
Many hens start egg eating because they need the extra proten. Increase through a change in feed type or add yoghurt, meat and meal worms a couple of times a week. Most common time for eat eating to occur is during moulting season.
Increase protein carefully so as not to overload their kidneys.
Janine
Adelaide, South Australia
Jessica @ The 104 Homestead says
Thank you so much for posting this. It infuriates me that people sell or destroy perfectly good birds because they developed a bad habit. Hats off to you!
Lesa says
Hi Jessica, I agree and hate to see a perfectly good bird put down – and I’ve usually got too much time and effort in them to do that 🙂
Erin says
What an ingenious method with the mustard. Thanks for the great tip.