Allotments 4 All

we have 10 ex batts who are laying between 3 and 4 eggs, for the last 4 days, one egg has been eaten each morning(9 am)..today at 10, I found the chicken actually eating another one, what should I do, they won't even pay for their food in eggs if half are being eaten ?

Hi Manics,

Mine haven't done it yet (touching wood as I write) But I think that there are a couple of things that you can try.
Putting a hot mustard / chilli powder in an egg and leaving it in the nest. Theory being that they will soon get put off by the taste.

Trying to collect the eggs as often as possible during the day (know that one may not be so easy for allotment chickens).

Putting golf balls in the coop / nest so that they try those and when they can't break them give up on anything egg related (not sure mine would be so easilty put off)

If it is just one chicken and you know which one it is, separate her and try the golf ball /mustard.


Hope that helps, sorry haven't got any hard and fast methods


Corinne

thanks, coznbob, most of the eaten ones are v early, we're usually there for 9 so, either late laid or early morning  :-\
I've got some golf balls so will try that, :)

Are you in home and able to collect your eggs more than once a day..? Often they will forget eating them after while when not given chance...Yes..I've heard mustard trick and using golf balls too..chilli do not work as they cannot taste the hotness in them..mustard works different chemical way..that will have effect.. ;D

unfortunately, they're a 10 minute ride away, goodlife..they're 'communal' chickens and we're usually first there, sometimes it's 10 am before we can get there, will try the mustard trick, too  :)

Hi
I have kept and bred rare and traditional poultry for years and haven't yet found a 100% cure for your problem.I have tried the mustard, chili, curry powder and diesel route and find they rarely work.
My solution was to convert the existing nest boxes to a roll away type. You can easily convert the existing boxes with this brilliant gizmo http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acatalog/Rollaway_Nest_Box_Inserts.html


Or do it yourselves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQL-Omcz35M Not the best vid but it gives you the idea

I hope this has been of some help
Cheers
Funky

excellent links, thank you  ;D

Quote from: manicscousers on April 29, 2010, 15:17:55
excellent links, thank you  ;D

You are welcome

just ordered two of the inserts to see how they go  :)