Egg eaters and what to do


Now this can be a real problem, but their are lots of deterents as I have found that once you get an egg eater they are for life!

Method 1:
Most hen houses the egg boxes are hanging off the side with a lift up lid on the outside for you and a bit of privacy for the hen, so method one if the eggs are not in view they will less likely draw the attention of the egg eater, so on the inside of the house put up a curtain with one inch wide cuts (like those shop doors you see with beaded curtains you can part and walk through, I find heavier fabric better and either stick a strip of velcro to hang it or nail it to the hen house. The chickens soon learn to pop through the curtain to lay eggs, but when she comes out leaves them hidden.

Method 2:
Make the eggs undesirable! sacrafice an egg everyday till she stops.
Take an egg make a small whole in one end (I find the rounded end easier) put in some mustard, seal the whole with a drop of wax and smooth over, place egg in chicken house egg laying box and let her enjoy. (The only danger is if you get one with a taste for mustard!)

Method 3:
Golf Balls! Because they are white they seem to be attractive to egg eaters, the idea is they get board of there habit as of course a golf ball is an unweilding object for eggy delights.

Method 4:
The most expensive and only if you have a chicken house that you can adapt for one of these. Its an insert for your nesting boxes (See the object on the right in the picture above) The eggs are layed into the nesting section and then roll into the collection box, a plastic lid pops down to stop the chickens getting at the eggs. The other advantage of these is it keeps the eggs lovely and clean, especially in the winter when mud is a problem.
If you are handy with a saw you could make your own (dont forget the ramp in it needs to slope so the eggs roll away from the chicken)

and on a final note.....Good Luck :)

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