How feasible is this theory?

[theabsinthefairy]

If they are not getting enough food they won't lay, and so if they had been used to extras of corn they may not now be having enough to eat, removing extras won't encourage egg laying, but if they are free ranging they may well be finding enough to eat and so should not be lacking in any minerals and proteins - so not sure that would be affecting their laying. Sorry - I think I lost myself in that sentance somewhat - rambling out loud.

Alternatively they may have decided to supplement their diet with their own eggs, and they may be the egg eating culprits themselves, but they do tend to eat everything, shell and all.

There are various things that put chickens off laying - heat, wet, cold, a bad mood , moult, mites etc etc etc

Magpies, large rats, pine martens, crows will all crack and eat eggs too, so you may have an external culprit.

Are you chickens singing egg delivery songs? We had problems with chickens eating eggs and got in the habit of nipping in quickly when they started to sing out so they did not have the chance to tuck in, and they have stopped scoffing them now, as they simply don't expect them to be there anymore.

[indy]

Magpies will definately take eggs, I have had this problem myself, also letting them, out later could be causing jostling and restlessness hence broken eggs

[JulieSherris]

We have magpies & crows around here too - I know other folks that ave had trouble with them & they use Larson traps
My brood here will chase the crows & magpies though & because the dogs are usually out, I tend not to have any troubles. Ben the young basset however, has recently taken to collecting eggs for me! He never cracks them, but quite often just leaves them on the doorstep!

I'd let your birds out as early as you are able to - they will go back in to lay with no problems. And just keep an eye out - all trial & error!

[thesunflowergal]

I have noticed a pair of Magpies hanging around our chook house too. i am hoping that my girls will see them off!!

Hope you get it sorted Susie

[red]

oh yes - magpies will have eggs.

could you have them in a little ark or run until after noon ?
have to say i never understand the idea that hens will only lay in the mornings anyhow.. mine do all day, but if they were in the run half the time that would increase chances of you getting the eggs

[Merry]

Mine also lay at any time during the day. One seems to lay every 26 hours or so in summer so her egg gets later and later until she misses a day then starts off at dawn again!

[JulieSherris]

Yep, we have all day layers too - in the morning, I usually collect 2 hen eggs & 5 duck eggs... lunchtime gets me one more duck egg & 3 or 4 hen eggs, then late afternoon I collect another 3 or 4 hen eggs.

Our youngest basset has taken to collecting eggs for me as well he 'plays' with them for a few minutes before leaving it on the doorstep - never a crack in sight! I wouldn't like to try & incubate them though!

[Pennylane]

Hope you can get the magpie thing sorted, had to resort to larson trap in the end as it was getting so that generations of magpies were coming here for a free feast...watch out as they raid other birds nest as well, pretty birds, but ruthless.

[Millymollymandy]

Magpies (or crows) eat my duck eggs but leave the shell. Can they actually manage to get a whole chook egg in their beaks?

It's not a problem for us as the only duck eggs they eat are the occasional one that a duck just 'pops out' wherever they happen to be, funny old things, ducks. Never had anything eaten in the duck nest inside.

[Millymollymandy]

Never had anything eaten in the duck nest inside.

Yet as usual I spoke too soon and the next day what did I find in the duck shed nest but an egg with a big pecked hole in it!

Glad you have got some eggs Susie, it's either feast or famine with them isn't it?

[Pennylane]

I have hung a bit of netting from the door of the hen house that seems to confuse the thieves but the chickens go under quite happily..idea from having the chickens come in the house even through the bead curtain...
might buy some time and settle the hens again, they dont like having thier nests raided and broken yolk in thier boxes is not good...

[Millymollymandy]

Hmmmm I've had another duck egg pecked this morning but I don't know whether my really timid ducks will go for the idea of having to get past some kind of netting or curtain to go back in to lay. There's always sparrows and little birds going in there and yesterday I found a swallow - luckily not building a nest as when it rains I shut the door!

[Lincolnshirelass]

How about the "George's Marvellous Medicine" cure? My mate does this with her egg-eating chooks...

1. Blow an egg and enlarge the hole at one end so that you can get one of those children's medicine syringes in it.
2. Get a bowl and put as many disgusting mixtures and strong tastes in as you can - hot mustard, chili sauce, garlic puree, worcestershire sauce etc. Have fun with your condiment cupboard!
3. Mix it all together into a yucky, stinky, gloopy mess and put it into the syringe.
4. Inject it back into the empty egg.
5. Place egg in nestbox and wait for outraged sounds of disgust.

You only have to do it a couple of times to get them used to the fact that eggs are a disgusting thing to eat!