[barneyowl]

New topic and an old problem.  Been keeping chooks for about 4 yrs now. Just recently bought two new hens... one of which has a taste for the eggs!!!  now they all love them.  Ihave tried filling them with mustard to put them off but it makes no difference.  I collect the eggs three or four times a day now to try and salvage some before THEY get them. When one of them gets an egg she runs off with it followed by a mad posse who try to out run her and get it off her.. if it was a worm it wold be hilarious to watch.
I just cant be on stand by all day to grab the eggs before they do but I cant bear the thought of the waste of all those lovely eggs.
I have heard of a kind of laying coop where the eggs roll away to safety after they have been layed.  Can anyone advise.  :?  Thanks all

[Vember]

Think this is the answer,
http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=16785

Best thing to do is pm Bodger

[peggyprice]

These are the rollaway nest boxes ...

http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/rollaway_nestboxes.htm

or as Agapanthus says, PM Bodger about his chicken spectacles.  He sent me a couple of pairs last week for Dorothy our egg eating Warren.  Don't know if they work or not - wretched creature hasn't laid an egg since the day we put them on her :!:

[barneyowl]

Thankyou very much.  The spectacles sound very interesting.  I would have to bespectacle all my chooks (all 12)  What a sight that would be
Thankyou for the rollaway boxes information... I think that may be the answer in the long run.
 I spoke to a friend today who suggested  putting the pretend eggs in the nest just so they would get fed up and break the habit.  she also suggested that I give them more protein in their diet and of course grit and oyster shells but as they are free range I doubt if they are short of the latter.
But I can now see that there is a solution and that I don`t have to be on "egg guard" for ever.  Thanks again  Barneyowl
ps.  What would I do without the fantastic help and expertise I get from you all on this great site?

[Bodger]

Hen specks are 15 p each plus postage which is normally the price of a stamp.

[barneyowl]

Thanks again Bodge