Egg eating is not a common issue in backyard flocks, but when it happens, it can be frustrating. Chickens that develop this habit can cause messy nesting boxes and reduce the number of eggs you collect. Preventing egg eating in your flock is essential to ensure a clean and productive laying environment.
Eggs are actually a nutritious snack for chickens, and you can give them cooked eggs occasionally. However, hens should not learn to break and eat their own freshly laid eggs. If a hen starts eating eggs, it is usually due to an external factor that can be prevented.
Common Causes of Egg Eating
Several factors can lead to egg eating in chickens. Identifying the cause can help you prevent and stop the habit before it spreads to the rest of your flock.
Nutrient Deficiency
Hens that are deficient in protein or calcium may start eating eggs to meet their dietary needs. A nutritionally lacking feed can also cause hens to look for alternative sources of nutrition.
Boredom
Chickens that are bored, especially during winter or when confined to the coop, may peck at their eggs out of curiosity. This behavior can quickly become a habit.
Acquired Taste
Once a hen tastes raw egg and realizes it is a good food source, she may begin intentionally breaking eggs. This habit can be difficult to break once it starts.
How to Prevent Egg Eating
Preventing eggs from breaking is the best way to stop hens from developing an egg-eating habit. Once they realize cracked eggs mean food, it becomes harder to stop the behavior. Here are some ways to prevent eggs from breaking in the nesting box.
Collect Eggs Frequently
Leaving eggs in the nesting box for too long increases the chance of breakage. Collect eggs at least once or twice a day. Most hens lay their eggs in the morning, so gathering eggs in the late morning or early afternoon can help keep the nesting boxes from becoming too full.
Provide Enough Nesting Boxes
Overcrowding in the nesting boxes can lead to broken eggs. The general recommendation is to have one nesting box for every 4–5 hens.
Even with multiple nesting boxes, hens may prefer a particular one, leading to congestion. You can make all the nesting boxes equally appealing by adding dark nesting curtains and soft bedding materials.
Use Properly Sized Nesting Boxes
Nesting boxes that are too small can make a hen feel crowded, increasing the risk of eggs being crushed. On the other hand, boxes that are too large may encourage multiple hens to share a nest, leading to accidental egg breakage. The ideal nesting box size is about 12 inches by 12 inches.
Provide Soft Nesting Box Litter
Eggs drop a short distance when laid, so cushioned nesting material is necessary to prevent cracking. Aim for about 2 inches of bedding in each nesting box.
Good options for nesting materials include:
- Wood shavings
- Straw
- Artificial grass mats (though some hens may not prefer them)
Manage Broody Hens
A broody hen wants to sit on eggs and hatch them, leading to overcrowding in the nesting boxes. If you are letting her hatch eggs, move her to a separate brooding area. If not, break her broodiness by removing her from the nesting box regularly.
Train Hens to Use Nesting Boxes
Young pullets that are new to laying need to be trained to use nesting boxes properly. If they start laying eggs in random spots, the eggs are more likely to break. Placing fake eggs in the nesting boxes can help encourage pullets to lay in the right place.
Preventing Nutrient Deficiencies
Sometimes, egg eating is caused by a hen’s need for more nutrients. Ensuring a well-balanced diet will help prevent the habit from forming.
Provide a High-Quality Layer Feed
Laying hens require feed with at least 16% protein and 3% calcium content. A complete layer feed ensures they receive the necessary vitamins and minerals to maintain strong eggshells and avoid nutritional deficiencies.
Offer a Calcium Supplement
Although a layer feed provides calcium, some hens may need extra calcium based on their age, health, or breed. A free-choice calcium supplement, such as crushed oyster shells or dried eggshells, can be provided in a separate feeder.
Crushed eggshells should be:
- Dried and crushed so hens don’t recognize them as eggs
- Mixed with oyster shells, since eggshells alone digest too quickly to provide lasting calcium
Offer High-Protein Snacks
Chickens that lack protein may eat eggs to supplement their diet. Healthy protein treats like black soldier fly grubs provide both protein and digestible calcium, making them an excellent snack for laying hens.
How to Stop an Egg-Eating Hen
If a hen has already developed the habit of eating eggs, you will need to take extra measures to break it.
Avoid Feeding Raw Eggs
Chickens are intelligent and can associate the eggs they lay with the treats you give them. Never feed your flock raw eggs or eggs with shells intact. If you want to give them eggs, cook them first by scrambling or hard-boiling them.
Use a Mustard-Filled Egg
If a hen repeatedly eats eggs, try tricking her into associating eggs with a bad taste.
How to do it:
- Blow out an egg by poking small holes at each end and pushing the contents out.
- Fill the empty eggshell with mustard, which chickens typically dislike.
- Place the egg in the nesting box.
- If the hen pecks at it, she will experience an unpleasant taste, discouraging further egg eating.
Place Fake Eggs in the Nesting Boxes
Hens that repeatedly try to break eggs can be discouraged by using fake eggs or golf balls. After several unsuccessful attempts at pecking a solid object, they may give up on trying to eat real eggs.
Use Roll-Away Nesting Boxes
Roll-away nesting boxes have a slanted surface that allows eggs to roll into a separate compartment as soon as they are laid. Since the hens cannot access the eggs, they cannot eat them. These boxes are an effective solution for stopping egg eating in persistent hens.
Preventing Egg Eating Due to Boredom
If a hen starts eating eggs out of boredom, keeping the flock entertained can help prevent the habit from forming.
Provide Enrichment Activities
- Offer chicken toys, treat dispensers, and hanging cabbages to keep chickens busy.
- Scatter straw flakes in the coop for foraging activity, especially during winter.
- Create grazing boxes with fresh greens that chickens can peck at throughout the day.
Maintain a Dark Nesting Area
Hens instinctively seek dark, secluded spots to lay their eggs. Keeping the nesting area dim encourages proper laying behavior and discourages egg pecking. Nesting box curtains can help create a private and quiet laying environment.
Ensure Enough Space for Each Hen
Overcrowding can cause stress and increase the likelihood of egg eating. Each standard-size laying hen should have at least 2–3 square feet of space in the coop and 8–10 square feet in the enclosure. A spacious environment reduces stress-related behaviors, including egg eating.
Egg eating can be a frustrating habit, but it is preventable and manageable. The key is to address the root cause, whether it is broken eggs, nutritional deficiencies, boredom, or overcrowding. By collecting eggs regularly, providing proper nesting conditions, and ensuring a balanced diet, you can minimize the chances of egg eating in your flock.
If a hen develops this habit, strategies like using fake eggs, mustard-filled eggs, or roll-away nesting boxes can help break the cycle. With proper management, your chickens can return to laying eggs without treating them as a snack.
FAQ’s
Q1. Why do chickens eat their own eggs?
Chickens may eat their eggs due to nutrient deficiencies, boredom, or an acquired taste for raw egg. Preventing egg breakage and ensuring a balanced diet can help stop this behavior.
Q2. Will feeding my chickens eggs cause them to eat their own?
Not if the eggs are cooked and unrecognizable. Scrambled or hard-boiled eggs are safe treats, but raw eggs should never be fed to chickens.
Q3. How do I stop a hen from eating eggs?
Try collecting eggs frequently, using fake eggs, or placing a mustard-filled egg in the nesting box. Roll-away nesting boxes can also prevent access to freshly laid eggs.
Q4. Does lack of calcium cause egg eating?
Yes, a calcium deficiency can lead to weak eggshells, making them more likely to break. Providing crushed oyster shells or eggshell supplements can help.
Q5. Can an egg-eating habit spread to other hens?
Yes, if other hens see one eating eggs, they may imitate the behavior. Addressing the issue quickly is important to prevent it from spreading through the flock.