Eggs and chilli

Dealing with egg-eating in hens

source: Victoria Roberts
Country Smallholding May 2002 p23

Hens may start eating eggs after laying a soft shelled egg. Eating a soft-shelled egg can teach them that eggs are good to eat. It’s better to prevent egg-eating, as it’s not easy to stop it once the hen has begun. Hens should have grit so that the egg shells are strong, and the nest box should be kept dark, with the entrance curtained using a vertically cut bin bag or other methods. Objects that look like eggs, such as golf balls, can also be used to confuse birds, and give signals for young birds to find laying places. Adding chilli to a hen’s food does not work, since hens do not find chilli to be hot.
CH,HD