Our flock of 50 or so mostly Barred Rocks, with some Red Rocks and Rhode Island Reds, seem to be getting into the habit of egg-eating. When I'm home to collect the eggs frequently throughout the day, I can prevent it, but 3 or 4 days a week they're not collected until the end of the day, and on such days we often lose up to 6 eggs. Oyster-shell is available and is being eaten. We've tried an egg-shaped rock, golf-balls, but it hasn't seemed to help. We think it's linked to boredom, because they're only free-ranged when I'm home (dogs, hawks). They have a decently-sized pen. Anyone know of a good way to deter egg-eaters, besides catching the culprit and putting them in the stew-pot?

Have you tried strewing golf balls around on the floor of the chicken house? Also, be sure to place one in each nest box (nest eggs) to dissuade the hens from all trying to lay in the same few nests which could cause egg breakage. Their instinct is to lay where they see other eggs laid. I have heard of some who hang suet for the hens to peck at to dissuade egg eating and feather picking when confined to close quarters, but I've never had to do that. The golf balls usually work for me. Good luck.

Are your nests DARK?. Hanging a burlap (or similar) in front of the nest boxes--just a slit to push through into the nests may help. Then the golf balls may be more effective, as they cannot see which to peck. Otherwise, check the bills to see who is eating the eggs--any yolk showing??? Just those or even just one, may have to be eliminated. And continue to gather eggs as often as possible during the day to leave no unauthorized lunch in the nests! CJR

Here's some info from a professional on the subject:

http://home.earthlink.net/~manzanovalph/eggeatingchickens.htm

You can get a egg, put a hole into it, and empty the contents.Fill it back up with hot mustard and tape up the hole. When the chickens peck at it they will taste the mustard.
You can get strips of lettuce and hang it from the roof so they can peck at it.

Just starting out
My wife and I have move to the country last year, and now want get some laying hens for our own use. She is from a farming background, but has been urbanized for some time. The only stipulation on the hens is that they must lay brown eggs. Why? the boss likes them. Any suggestions on breeds for the new hen house?
We live outside of Calgary Alberta, Canada.
Thanks
Bob

I have 10 Whiterock hens and they lay nothing but brown eggs.
Very nice shaped eggs and dark color.
I purchased my whiterocks from a local farmer who ordered them from a poultry magazine.
They seem to be the best chickens for me.

Cedarfarm - EGG EATING: My sweet chicken was eating her eggs. We caught her and took the advice of darkening the nest. It's worked very well. None of the other chickens figured out eggs were yummy. Occasionaly, she still sneaks one.

Rybnic:What a question!!! I'm sure we're all going to come on here and tell you how wonderful our chickens are. I have Golden Sex Links and Rhode Island Reds. 5 out of 6 are laying consistantly now.(5months old)

Go with the mustard idea.
We use Tabasco sauce and remove all the water from the coop for a period of a day. If it dosnt stop then we remove it for two days and so on.
It is only ever our new hens that do this and they normally only do it once.In saying that it has only happened five or so times.

I saw on a site once to break an egg and sprinkle a good bit of pepper on it the taste should stop them.I dont know if it works coz i never had the problem.

No, chickens don't taste red pepper, Tabasco or other flaming hot seasonings. Doesn't phase them. And if your hens are laying, do not ever take away their water, as it is vital for their health and laying eggs!! Now, Skunks, dogs, that is a different matter. An egg filled with hot stuff, will send them away! CJR

You need to build a nest that will let the eggs roll to a safe spot on something soft where the chickens cant reach they sell some online dont know the site