tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post8591909319822458454..comments2024-03-28T20:02:15.189+00:00Comments on An English Homestead: How To Stop An Egg Eater?Kev Alvitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-17289038801210087842015-06-22T10:47:09.382+01:002015-06-22T10:47:09.382+01:00check their beaks usually some evidence remains, a...check their beaks usually some evidence remains, are you finding shells? is it possible they are just laying elsewhere? we bought in some hens recently and i was about to complain to the seller as not one egg after 3 weeks then found 2 huge piles in the long grass ..........The Squirrel Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08970265671489926403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-21162960383855364042014-09-11T08:01:38.275+01:002014-09-11T08:01:38.275+01:00We actually caught one of our hens in the act! Sh...We actually caught one of our hens in the act! She tasted really good, yum. Then we found that the blue jays were flying in and pecking the eggs and eating them. Now we leave the hens in the hen house until late in the day and collect the eggs and then let them out. We have on less blue jay, too.Tewshoozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564577459982968771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-87714385068116291862014-01-19T01:50:11.718+00:002014-01-19T01:50:11.718+00:00Hi Kev, it's a blown egg with mustard, not chi...Hi Kev, it's a blown egg with mustard, not chilli. Birds don't detect the hotness of chilli, they enjoy it. Taking the eggs in frequently, leaving ceramic eggs in the nest, enough nest for all the chickens - one nest per 5 chooks, and good nutrition all work. If you know which one it is, and you can't break the habit, you'll have to separate her because the others will learn the behaviour from her. Good luck!rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-89440486232533919552014-01-12T22:36:43.334+00:002014-01-12T22:36:43.334+00:00Hi, I've just found your blog and I'm enjo...Hi, I've just found your blog and I'm enjoying it a lot. As to the eggs, are you sure they are being eaten? We've been raising chicken for quite some years now and find that during winter they lay a lot less. We also have a dog that loves eggs and eats them as often as he can... But if your chicken are really eating the eggs, that may mean they have some mineral deficiency, which you could solve by mixing some grit (the sort that's sold for pigeons) in their food. I wish you luck!AnaGFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09114850064762738271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-51902525845651032532014-01-10T22:42:26.463+00:002014-01-10T22:42:26.463+00:00Thank you, so do I!Thank you, so do I!Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-15906186400188673782014-01-10T22:42:09.753+00:002014-01-10T22:42:09.753+00:00They shouldn't be bored they've got a huge...They shouldn't be bored they've got a huge run outside on fresh grass, but I'm pretty much trying everything else, although I have no golf balls here (I've only ever played once and I don;t think it was my sport! In fact I don;t think I have a sport!) - <br />I'll make sure I post an update when I get the problem sorted. <br />Thanks for your coment!Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-85255002397320587432014-01-10T22:36:49.156+00:002014-01-10T22:36:49.156+00:00I'm going to try to tackelt that. with my wife...I'm going to try to tackelt that. with my wife collecting the eggs a few times a day it seem so tbe helpingKev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-68691340176863239792014-01-10T11:17:54.860+00:002014-01-10T11:17:54.860+00:00I hope 2014 proves to be a good year for you and y...I hope 2014 proves to be a good year for you and yours!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16349087080262856079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-45822194930080697212014-01-09T00:46:36.427+00:002014-01-09T00:46:36.427+00:00While no personal experience (yet), 2nd Family tha...While no personal experience (yet), 2nd Family that lives at the other end of our property has had the problem. They were told it was weak shells, and it would break and once one gets a taste of it they want more. There were told to use golf balls and they did put some in each nest. They also were told to darken the next boxes (so it was wasn't so bright, they put up curtains on the nest boxes) and it stopped. Oh, and they said make sure they aren't bored, give them stuff to do. Not sure what that means, ha. <br /><br />Good luck!! I'll be watching to see and learn myself! 1st Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04861609647607912193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-13865477910650530182014-01-09T00:04:04.618+00:002014-01-09T00:04:04.618+00:00Weak shells are the issue I find. Sort that and t...Weak shells are the issue I find. Sort that and the problem stops <br />Compostwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09028585447065282738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-3964282722381765872014-01-08T22:02:02.632+00:002014-01-08T22:02:02.632+00:00Thank you everyone for your comments! I'll kee...Thank you everyone for your comments! I'll keep you all posted on what happens!Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-60876195423781182862014-01-08T22:01:33.412+00:002014-01-08T22:01:33.412+00:00I'll put the grit feeder down there tomorrow a...I'll put the grit feeder down there tomorrow and see if it makes a difference before the weekend. Thanks!Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-62624714853218712912014-01-08T22:00:41.125+00:002014-01-08T22:00:41.125+00:00When I've had exbattery hens before they'v...When I've had exbattery hens before they've always continued to keep laying really well so I think they are laying, but it's hard to be sure. I could do with a web cam down there I think!Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-38819953525308158842014-01-08T21:59:28.686+00:002014-01-08T21:59:28.686+00:00They've got oyster shell mixed in with their f...They've got oyster shell mixed in with their food so shouldn't really be that but I'll give them extra in a seperate feeder and see if that makes a difference. Not sure I fancy eating these chickens as they're still quite thin!Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-34827883018171492552014-01-08T21:57:35.630+00:002014-01-08T21:57:35.630+00:00This weekend I'm going to do a little test wit...This weekend I'm going to do a little test with the one bird I think it could be and see what happens. If she pecks an egg as soon as she sees it then shes a gonna!Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-44197548295359076842014-01-08T21:56:14.367+00:002014-01-08T21:56:14.367+00:00There is a magpie about at the moment, so it could...There is a magpie about at the moment, so it could be. I've not seen it go near the pen. I have a just the answer to that problem...Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-75953778948452196962014-01-08T21:54:52.478+00:002014-01-08T21:54:52.478+00:00My wife said one was weak shelled today so this mi...My wife said one was weak shelled today so this might be a problem. I guess because they're trying to grow so many feathers it might be takign it out of them.Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-4263264553589304672014-01-08T21:53:40.275+00:002014-01-08T21:53:40.275+00:00I'll increase their calcuim as well although t...I'll increase their calcuim as well although they've got layers pellets and grit so whould be getting plenty. One chicken has been getting out each day and laing in the 3 free rangers pen. I orked this out today when there was 4 eggs off three hens! Sneeky thing then went back to the greenhouse to roost!Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-34239422288938727782014-01-08T21:51:40.237+00:002014-01-08T21:51:40.237+00:00(As I haven't got any mustard in the house - h...(As I haven't got any mustard in the house - hate the stuff)Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-91010665339789050222014-01-08T21:51:12.890+00:002014-01-08T21:51:12.890+00:00I've read of washing up liquid as well does th...I've read of washing up liquid as well does the same thingKev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-61711733544962797982014-01-08T21:50:37.575+00:002014-01-08T21:50:37.575+00:00If it gets taken away, it won't come back! I n...If it gets taken away, it won't come back! I need to find the culprit first...Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-56120787215714350412014-01-08T21:49:47.049+00:002014-01-08T21:49:47.049+00:00This weekend I'm doing this! Sounds like fun o...This weekend I'm doing this! Sounds like fun on it's own!Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-34804611745530986332014-01-08T21:41:32.135+00:002014-01-08T21:41:32.135+00:00I found it was due to weak shells. I fed extra she...I found it was due to weak shells. I fed extra shell grit and they stopped eating eggs. But my friend tried the same and it didn't work.... so must be other causes too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12874273438983052621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-39118427927551802922014-01-08T17:15:34.652+00:002014-01-08T17:15:34.652+00:00I have an egg eater and have caught her with yoke ...I have an egg eater and have caught her with yoke on her beak but it seems to be eggs that have a soft shell are targeted...normal ones are left alone.<br />it maybe they just aren't laying many at the moment.<br />Gigibirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12923676059691878214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3078806588853616263.post-28058039362052247012014-01-08T14:47:41.846+00:002014-01-08T14:47:41.846+00:00As a wee lad taking care of the family flock, my d...As a wee lad taking care of the family flock, my dear departed mother always cautioned me to make sure there was plenty of oyster shell as if the chickens ran out of shell they would eat their eggs. AND, if they started eating their eggs then they would be impossible to stop and we would have to eat the chickens.<br />She was very opposed to feeding the chickens broken eggshells as she though it would get them in habit of eating eggs.<br />I've fed our chickens eggshells before with no problems.buddeshepherdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10747323705664619491noreply@blogger.com