laying issues/egg eating

Egg eating usually starts with there being too many eggs in a nesting box at once, a chicken is in there and accidentally steps on it and cracks it. then they taste it and decide they like it. and chickens are very smart and quick learners and will continue to break the eggs and eat it. so if you have more than 6 chickens i would recommend collecting the eggs twice a day-like 12:00 and 6:00, you choose when. chickens will often favor a certain box/s and that's where you will find most of the eggs when collecting them. i suggest having one box for every 2-3 chickens, so if they are needing to lay at the same time, they will have the option of laying in another box-even if its not their favorite. here are ways to "cure" egg eating:

1) collect eggs as frequently as possible, like in the morning and evening, or when your schedule permits

2) Don't use bright lights in your coops, especially near the nesting area. Bright light increases nervousness and picking habits.

3) Do not scare the hens out of the nesting boxes. The sudden movement can break eggs in the box and can give the hens a taste of egg and promote egg eating.

4) To keep the egg shells strong, feed a complete ration and supplement oyster shells free choice. The oyster shells serve as a calcium supplement to keep the shells strong. Never feed the hens used egg shells without smashing them to very fine particles.

5) Egg eating can be done by predators such as snakes, skunks, rats, weasels and other predators. If your hens are eating eggs, the hen will usually have dried yolk on their beaks and sides of their heads. Egg eating hens also can be seen scouting the nests for freshly laid eggs to consume.

6) Prevention is the only proven treatment. The longer the eggs are in the barn, the better the chance it will be broken or eaten.

info from www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/poultry/factsheets/33.html