I need help-Please

The last couple of days, I have a hen that is pecking eggs. How do I stop this? How do i find out whih one is doing it?

Occasionally when one starts they all follow. Maybe take one suspect chicken out at a time and see when it stops? Some people recommend putting in really hard (stone) eggs to shock them out of it. Others suggested filling an egg with cayenne (shouldn't work, because chickens don't have taste receptors for capsaicin) or salt.

thanks cat, but why do they do this?

I think it starts out of boredom and curiosity--then they find they like the taste of eggs and it becomes a very bad habit which others will learn. I guess it might in some cases be due to some sort of nutritional deficiency. It seems to be a very common problem. Every book I have on chickens addresses it. I had one of my chickens, who does not normally peck eggs, start pecking at one I had in my hand. I think she just associates me with food and thought it must be something she could eat.

thanks. they get laying crumbles, scratch, treats and greens everyday

Oh my.. wonder if you could get an egg that is kind of like a tuning fork..

boooonnngggggg... poor little chicken bobbin head..LOL

LOL@Fran. have a visual in my head of that

I read that instead of cayenne, put hot mustard into some eggs that you have blown out the contents. Use a squeezy bottle and fill the egg full of mustard. After a few "opening" mustard eggs, apparently it puts them off the idea. Never tried it here, just a suggestion.

thanks commander, i will try anything

UUGHHH, that would only happen to me once and I would never do it again.

not me, i love mustard

I love dijon mustard, but not the hot stuff....

I love the hot stuff--especially with honey.

yea, but a whole egg full? NOT

Yep--a whole egg full! I love hot honey mustard.

ok, if there is a bit of lettuce, a few tomatoes, couple of slices of cucumber.. maybe a sprinkle of cheese.. and a dallup of HM.. ok, that I'll go for.. hmm, I wonder if thats what it all taste like to those hens jkj?

don't know, but meaning to find out!

My Granny said once a hen starts eaten eggs she won't never stop and you better off havin chicken stew than feedin a egg eaten hen.

my hubby said the same thing. don't know which one is doing it.

I've had egg eaters and that's "HAD" i find them to keep doing it and i was always thinkin they might get all the rest to doin it too so i just got rid of the one eatin the eggs.

(gave them away)

it will be gone as soon as i'm sure who is doing it

You know this was strange but once i had a roo eatin eggs got rid of him too.

maybe it's bossman. will have to keep an eye on him

CF says you CAN stop this habit. Please try Catscan's advice. Although Claire's advice is good, yoru chickens DO like spicy foods! Get a kennel and separate them till you figure out who it is. Then separate the culprit and take care of the nutritional deficiency. Band this chicken and keep in mind it may have a genetic need for MORE protein, or a protein absorption problem. Don't incubate eggs from this chicken, as this problem can be inherited. But no need to cull in CF's opinion.
All My Best,
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CF