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Raising layer chicken is one of the best way to provide for your own family . Not only are lay hen easy to care for , but they are also one of the least expensive types of stock you may rear .
Plus , they are much smaller than most other farm beast and require minimum substructure .
No matter how long you have beenraising volaille , though , there are certain frustrations that can look . One of the most common informant of exasperation among homesteader is the quandary of chickens who like to eat their own egg .
This is a problem that I have struggle repeatedly with on my own farm . When you get up as many chickens as we do – we currently have just over 75 laying hen – it can be tough to discover the main culprit behind the nut - eating and even problematical to eradicate the behavior .
However , in my years of kick upstairs lay hens , I ’ve realized that there are usually a few common denominator behind the behavior . There are also some well-fixed solutions you could incorporate .
Here ’s what you need to know about chickens who eat their own eggs :
Why Do Chickens Eat Their Own Eggs?
1. Nutrient Deficiency
Calcium or protein deficiency is one of the most common understanding for egg eating . Even if you costless - feed your chickens so that they can access food at any time , there is a fortune that your chicken might not be make enough vital nutrient . They may rick to egg eating as a result .
Calcium and protein are n’t the only food your birds may be lacking . They might also be deficient in atomic number 12 , atomic number 15 , or vitamin D.
Supplement as necessitate and cognise that testis - eating might be more common in the wintertime months or during prison term of inclement weather . Adding supernumerary feed during these times can help alleviate egg - run through problem .
2. Broken Eggs
More often than not , bollock - eating begin for no reason other than unmingled curiosity . An egg gets step on , and a singular hen make up one’s mind to take a nibble . It ’s as simple as that . And once she gets a taste for eggs , she ’ll go after them forever .
you may prevent eggs eating by decoct the likelihood of broken orchis . Collect egg ofttimes ( this might mean several time a daytime ) and check that you have enough space in the cage and footrace . You also postulate plenty ofnest boxesso the hens are n’t push for space in there , too . check that the nest boxes are filled with freshbeddingand that there is at least one box seat for every 4 - 5 hen .
3. Too Much Light
biddy choose to lay egg in benighted , secluded areas . They do n’t wish a bright ignitor shining on them . If you use a light in your coop or even if your nest boxes are located in direct sunlight , it might be deserving your metre to hang a mantle over the nest boxes .
Not only will this give your hens the seclusion they need to lie in peace of mind ( without excessive shuffling and moving that can lead to orchis break ) but the other hens wo n’t be able-bodied to see egg that have already been laid . This will melt off the temptation to peck at it .
4. Dehydration
chicken often eat up their own eggs when they are dry up . Eggs curb a large percentage of water , so pecking at ballock is a adept means for your volaille to hydrate themselves .
fortunately , this problem is pretty well-heeled to diagnose and to remedy – simply add more water and watering station to your coop .
5. Stress
Stress is a common perpetrator behind hen eating their own eggs . Identifying likely stressors in your chickens ’ know – from a deficiency of solid food and H2O to parasites or evenpredator pressure – can help you get rid of egg - feed behavior .
How to Stop Chickens From Eating Their Own Eggs
1. Add More Space
Here ’s a simple solvent to solve most egg - eating problems – add more space . Egg eating often results from humiliated eggs , so arrive at sure egg are seldom wear can aid halt the behavior in its tracks .
verify you have at least 1 nest box for every 4 hens . These should be positioned off the primer and a decent distance away from your roost . Give your chickens more distance to roam in the ladder , too .
nut eating can ensue from ennui , so give the girls some blank space to explore can help comfort their cabin fever .
2. Ensure Adequate Feed and Water
Make certain your poulet ’ nutrition and hydration are in check . Switch to a higher protein feed , which can make up for some nutritionary deficiencies . Protein deficiency is a common issue that leads to nut eating – your chickens are n’t aim something that they need .
If you use ahomemade feed , that ’s a great way to write out down on expenses and artificial ingredients . However , you postulate to keep in mind that many homemade rations do not have enough protein , so you will need to add on it . You canraise mealwormsfor an additional seed of protein .
The same goes for calcium . check that that calcium is being ply , ideally through the feed as well as through an oyster shell appurtenance . If the shells of your eggs are thin or flimsy in any way , that ’s a good indicator that you are n’t giving your lady friend enough Ca .
retrieve that often it ’s not about what variety of provender you are using , but rather how much . Even if you have a free feeding insurance , it is not uncommon for chicken to press for place at the tributary .
You may find that your prevailing hens prevent those low on the pecking order from access food . This can lead to nutritive deficiencies , so keep an heart on your flock dynamic and provide plenty of feeding stations . To understand the pecking order well , say our post on managingbullying chickens .
3. Supply Some Toys
Chickens often feed their own eggs out of simple boredom . Adding some toy to the henhouse , whether it ’s a few crickets or even atetherball toymade out of a head of boodle , can help ease this tedium .
add toys is a great localization during the cold wintertime month when outdoorfree - rangingmight not be potential or practical .
4. Change Your Bedding
Make certain your nest box seat are in tiptop build by add qualitybedding . Dirty bedding often direct to broken nut , which can , in good turn , lead to ballock feeding .
ensure you swap out bedding at least once a week or consider endue inroll - away nest box seat . These have compartments that move the eggs off from the hen into a protected expanse as soon as it is lay .
5. Add Some Fake Eggs
If testicle eating is a wicked problem , you might need to hire the service of decoy eggs . localise a fewfake eggsinside the nest box ( you may buy these online or you may use something as bare as a golf nut ) .
When your hen pick at at the fake egg , they will finally learn that their beaks ca n’t get through the tough outside . It will take all the playfulness away from trying to use up egg !
6. Isolate the Perpetrators
If egg eating is severe , you may need to spend some clock time watching your flock to figure out who the perpetrators are . Remove any offending hens from the flock – the behavior is not going to quit any time soon . You ca n’t allow them to teach this demeanor to the other chicken .
An adjacent issue to that of egg - eating is broodiness . Broody hensare often reluctant to leave the nest boxful , and there ’s a fortune that the other hen will fight her for her space .
This can go to egg breakage and then , of course , nut eating . If you have a broody hen that just wo n’t move , consider relocating her to a young nesting orbit so that you do n’t have to occupy about her disrupting the other hens .
7. Be Careful Feeding Eggs
Many masses run eggshells or even whole eggs back to their hens . That ’s not a unfit matter . In fact , feeding eggs is a great means to recycle nutrients back into your chickens ’ diets as well as to cut food waste .
However , once your chickens get the taste for orchis , they ’re never going to blank out it . You need to ensure you make the eggs unrecognisable when you prey them back . travail up eggshells into a fine powder and cook eggs when you bung them to your chickens . This way , your birds do n’t develop a sense of taste for the peeled egg yolk .
Why Egg-Eating Is a Problem
At the end of the sidereal day , nut - eating is n’t a venial concern , nor is it cute . And it ’s definitely not a laughing issue ! If you have hens consume eggs , it ’s going to seriously trim down down on your bollock production . What ’s worse is that if one begins doing this , it ’s not go away to be long before the others follow lawsuit . You may find that your egg - put down halts entirely .
There ’s nothing bad than prey an entire flock of laying hens and receive nothing in homecoming . Consider incorporating one of these easy hacks to prevent your chickens from eating their own ballock – it will pay off big time in the future .
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