I'm sure they are going to eat their eggs the minute they see one!

Hi, when i collect the eggs, my girls follow me around staring at my hands making an awful racket, i talk to them (as you do) and say looks girls its only and egg and when i show them what i have in my hand they all dive in thinking its a treat. They dont eat their eggs however. Be careful when 'showing' eggs to them because if they are used too having treats off you they will assume you are giving them treats and once an egg eating habit starts its very difficult to break. Some people like to put rubber/china eggs in the nest box to show them where to lay if they think they are close. They are not expensive and can be bought from alot of pets places now. It jas the added bonus that if they do peck it they wont break it and may get board of doing it before the real eggs come along.Try not to worry about problems before they happen though, you will drive yourself mad with 'what ifs?' . Its good that you have knowlage so you can be prepared, but chickens have been laying eggs forever and although some eat their eggs, most dont. Go and get your egg cups ready, im sure you will be having beautiful fresh eggs in no time

just leave em to get on with it 

I often break any heavily soiled eggs on the ground and leave the hens to get on with it (and it's always a mad dash to see who can get there first, both for the yolk, and for the shell), and I haven't had a problem with them eating the eggs in the nest boxes yet!