Why Do Chickens Eat Their Own Eggs?

You may be surprised to find chickens eating their own eggs if you have chickens. You may even wonder if something else is eating them. It’s pretty easy to tell if chickens are eating their eggs. You’ll find cracked shells missing the contents of the eggs. Sometimes you’ll see crust around the chicken’s beak that looks like dried glue. There are several ways to prevent them from eating eggs, and it’s important to rule out the cause. They can eat their eggs because they are overcrowded or because they don’t have a great nesting area. 

Chickens can also eat eggs just from being bored or because they have a nutrient deficiency. Most of these are simple fixes and will help you handle your egg eaters easily. You’ll soon learn the risks of them eating their eggs and how to prevent it from becoming a problem. So keep reading to discover the ins and outs of chickens eating their eggs and what you can do about it.

Too many chickens in one place (Overcrowding)

There are several ways to know if your hens are crowded. Disputes escalate into outright violence—bruised and soiled eggs. Eggs are broken when there are too many hens using too few nests. Unbroken eggs become contaminated by broken ones, and chickens are tempted to start eating eggs, which is a bad habit. Birds appear dirty and disorganized. 

Chickens crammed together are filthy, have broken feathers, and occasionally even have sores from other birds picking at them. Aside from this causing chickens to eat their eggs, it’s an abusive situation. You can ensure your chickens have plenty of space for health purposes and avoid them eating eggs by: 

• Give 15 square feet per chicken to roam.
• The more room you can offer, the better.
• Chicken coops should be three or more square feet per chicken.
• Provide a roost or perch area. 
• If possible, allow them to roam your yard occasionally freely. 

Not enough nesting boxes for chickens

Now that you have ruled out or taken care of the crowding situation, why might your chickens still be eating eggs? It could be that you need a few more nesting boxes. Nesting boxes are not meant to be used for sleeping. One nesting box per four chickens is an excellent general guideline. 

Wood, metal, or plastic can be used to construct containers for stability and ease of cleaning. You can also purchase them already made. Place nests in the coop area that gets the least traffic. To deter predators and the accumulation of debris from the coop floor, raise the nest one to three feet. Sawdust, straw, or wood shavings are affordable options. 

Every few weeks, change the bedding to keep the nest tidy and appealing. Insert plastic eggs into the nests to represent recently laid eggs. Daily egg collection is necessary, but chickens are more likely to increase an existing clutch than to start a new one, which is why it is helpful to have fake eggs. This will also discourage them from eating their eggs and from breaking them. 

Not eating a balanced diet

The consumption of eggs by chickens may indicate a nutritional imbalance or deficiency. Eggs are a great source of protein, and their shells are almost entirely composed of calcium. A chicken’s diet and general health depend on these two things. To compensate for either, chickens may start eating their eggs. 

By giving your chickens chicken feed designed for laying hens, you can ensure they get enough protein. The majority of layer feed contains 16–18% protein. Due to the high calcium content of eggshells, laying hens must consume a significant amount of supplemental calcium to produce hard, healthy eggs with firm shells. 

If chickens aren’t getting enough calcium from other sources, they may eat eggs. Inadequate calcium intake can make eggs with thin or soft shells more likely to crack, luring even the healthiest chickens to eat them. Even worse, a chicken may become egg-bound if it receives insufficient calcium. As a result, providing extra calcium is a fantastic way to stop unhealthy and egg-eating behavior.

Is it safe for chickens to eat raw eggs?

Scrambled eggs are edible to chickens and can be a healthy snack. If your chickens overproduce eggs, you can use some of them to make delectable scrambled eggs as a treat. The high protein and calcium content are excellent for your chickens’ overall growth. Feeding your chickens scrambled eggs while they are molting can speed up the process.

Providing sick or hurt chickens with scrambled eggs can also be very beneficial. Scrambled eggs can get the protein boost they need to recover and heal quickly. Raw eggs are safe to eat for chickens. However, you should never give them raw eggs as you could lose a lot of money. Giving chickens raw eggs to eat will train them to like them.

This implies that they will soon begin consuming their eggs. You won’t get as many eggs from them as you did in the past if they start eating their eggs. Therefore, make every effort to feed well-cooked eggs to chickens when feeding them. To prevent them from eating the raw eggs, cook them thoroughly so there is no taste of raw eggs.

How to stop chickens eating eggs

One of the main reasons hens start eating eggs is egg breakage. Your hens’ chances of developing a taste for raw eggs are reduced or eliminated by reducing or eliminating egg breakage. Always leave at least 2 inches of clean, dry nesting material in nesting boxes to encourage chickens to lay their eggs.

The support from the nest will also help prevent them from getting cracked. Early in the day, collect eggs. This gives less time for egg eating and breaking. By 10 a.m., most hens have finished laying eggs. It might only take egg-breakage prevention techniques to get your hens to stop eating eggs. You might also need to take measures to reduce stress if you have ingrained egg-eating habits. Some things to try are:

• Away from the nesting boxes, dim the lights.
• Avoid disturbing hens that are nesting.
• Make sure the coop has enough room for each hen.
• Have fresh food and water available 
• If one hen is intimidating the others by guarding a single feeding station, set up a second feeding station.
• If at all possible, give the hens room to roam outside 
• Give them insects like mealworms for added nutrition

What else can be eating chicken eggs?

Chicken eggs are a common food source for a variety of animals. Rats, crows, and raccoons are all known to eat chicken eggs. Possums, snakes, and skunks are all common egg predators. This is more common in areas with fewer houses and if you live closer to the city. 

Depending on what is around your home will depend on how to prevent your eggs from getting eaten, or worse, killing your chickens. While most chickens are protected from these predators by being kept in enclosed coops, some chickens free-range and are at risk of being eaten. 

To protect your chickens and their eggs, it is essential to be aware of the predators in your area and take steps to keep them out of your chicken coop. You should also check frequently for holes dug around your chicken’s pens. If there has been any significant weather, make sure your chicken house is intact without any damage. Repairs are essential to keep unwanted guests out of the chicken’s habitat. 

Conclusion 

Chickens typically eat their eggs for one of three reasons: overcrowding, an insufficient amount of nesting boxes, or an imbalance in their diet. Overcrowding can cause stress in chickens, which can lead to them eating their eggs as a way to cope. 

An insufficient amount of nesting boxes can also lead to chickens becoming stressed, as they may feel like they struggle to have enough space. Finally, an imbalance in a chicken’s diet can also lead to egg-eating. Chickens need a balanced diet to produce solid shells for their eggs. 

If they are not getting enough calcium or other nutrients, they may eat their eggs to get the nutrition they need. Now that you know how to stop chickens from eating their eggs go save your eggs! If you know anyone who can use this article, please help them to save eggs by sharing it! 

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