Accepted Answer

Hello,

There are two reasons that hens will eat eggs. A calcium deficiency can be one cause. That occurs mostly in hens who haven't been supplied with oyster shell(or other calcium) free choice. However, the most common cause of egg-eating is that it has become a habit. Often, an egg is accidentally broken. A hen will taste it and find that it's good. From then on, she'll break and eat an egg at every opportunity. If another hen sees this, she's likely to try it, too. Before long, you'll have a whole flock of egg-eating hens. Once a hen starts doing this, it's nearly impossible to break her of it. It is recommended to cull such hens. If your hens are pets and you don't want to do that, you could make separate housing for the offending hen, so she can only eat her own eggs and won't teach other hens to eat eggs, too.    

You can also try to break the habit, as long as you know it will be difficult. Make sure the hens have plenty of oyster shell and a complete ration. Be sure their water is fresh and not frozen. If water isn’t available hens may eat eggs for the moisture. Provide more nestboxes than you have hens, and keep clean nesting material in them. Gather eggs often - at least 3 or 4 times a day, more if possible. Reduce noise and activity in the hen house.

Sometimes hens are blamed for egg-eating when in reality a rat or an opossum is doing it, so you do need to be aware of that possibility, as well.

If you have more questions about this, just let me know by clicking on REPLY.

Anna

Expert:	MsAM
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Accepts:
Answered:	12/16/2008

Bird Expert

Have owned and/or raised parakeets, finches, cockatiels, and poultry over a period of thirty years.