Chickens Eating Eggs And Homemade Nesting Boxes

[SkFarm25]

Wondering if anyone else has had problems with their chickens pecking at and eating the eggs, I'm not sure if I have one problem chicken or if all of them are doing it but its probably costing me half my egg production. They get lots of feed, free range as well, so there are lots of grass and bugs for them to eat and plenty of fresh water so I don't think its a vitamin deficiency or anything. I've hear of people syringing in some Tabasco sauce and leaving it out for them to eat and that curbs them fast.

Also wondering if anyone has made any homemade nest boxes that work well and are cheap. The ones I'm using were my grandmothers and have finally rusted and worn out beyond use/repair. They were the "rollaway" design so the chickens could never really get at the eggs after they laid them. (this would also help my egg eating problem) But new ones are crazy expensive! What do you guys use? Thanks!

[John Gusmano]

As far as the egg eating goes, have you tried giving them some oyster shells in a separate feeding bowl? I had this problem last year and once I gave them access to oyster shells, the egg eating stopped.

Also, you can use milk crates as cheap nesting boxes.

Hope this helps you out!

[yankeebushman]

The capsaicin in hot sauce does not have an effect on birds. That probably won't break the egg eating habit. You could try leaving a few golf balls in each nesting box. When they peck them they realize they are not breaking and can help curb the egg eaters behavior. I used that trick on my sisters birds and within a few days they stopped.
I used 5 gallon pails for nesting boxes. Cheap, simple, easy to clean.

[SkFarm25]

I always keep them full on oyster shells. Makes better eggs that way. I've tried a couple pail nest boxes in the past and seemed to work well. Maybe I can come up with a rollaway design of my own. Angle the pails just slightly and build an open back drawer type under the perch.
I'll give the golf balls a try as well. Can't hurt!

[histopicker]

Other than oyster shells the only suggestion I have is to look for the bird with yolk on her beak. Put her in a stew pot.

[farmertrappe]

I liked the look of the wooden boxes TSC has, so I got one and patterned it and made my own. Oyster shell and pick up eggs as early as possible.