Can Chickens Eat Eggs? (The Truth About Feeding Eggs to Hens)

You've probably wondered: can I give my hens leftover eggs? What about eggshells? And the big one — will feeding eggs make my hens start eating their own eggs?

I've been keeping Light Sussex and Orpingtons here in Devon for years. I've fed eggs to my flock. And I've learned exactly what works, what doesn't, and how to avoid creating a nightmare in the nest box.

Let me save you the trouble I went through.

🐔 Quick answer

❌ Raw eggs — strongly discouraged. Most keepers avoid feeding raw eggs because it may increase the risk of egg‑eating behaviour in some hens.
✅ Cooked eggs (plain) — safe, chopped or scrambled, as an occasional protein boost.
✅ Eggshells — excellent calcium source. Dry and crush them first.
💡 Prevention trick — put ceramic or plastic eggs in nest boxes before pullets start laying. It teaches them that pecking eggs is pointless.
⚠️ If a hen starts eating eggs from the nest box, act fast. Remove her, collect eggs more often, and check for thin shells (calcium deficiency).

The one hard rule: never feed raw eggs (here's why)

Feeding raw eggs is strongly discouraged. Most keepers avoid feeding raw eggs because it may increase the risk of egg‑eating behaviour in some hens.

Why? Once a hen tastes raw egg, she may start breaking and eating eggs from the nest box. Once this behaviour starts, it can be challenging to correct, and may require consistent management changes.

A hen that learns to eat her own eggs will also teach others. Before you know it, you'll find smashed, empty shells in every nest box and no eggs for your breakfast table.

Cooked eggs are fine (with one condition)

Cooked eggs — scrambled, boiled, or chopped — are perfectly safe. They're an excellent source of protein, especially during moulting or cold winter months when hens need extra energy.

But there's a condition: never feed cooked eggs in a way that looks like a whole egg. Don't throw a whole boiled egg into the run. Chop it up. Scramble it. Mash it. Many keepers prefer to avoid reinforcing a strong visual association between eggs and food as a precaution.

Eggshells: the best calcium supplement

Eggshells are almost pure calcium carbonate. They're an excellent, free calcium supplement for laying hens.

But here's how to feed them safely:

Dry them first — leave them on a windowsill or in a low oven (not hot, just warm enough to dry).
Crush them — break them into small pieces or grind them into a powder. They shouldn't look like eggshells anymore.
Offer in a separate bowl — hens will eat what they need.

Crushed eggshells help hens produce strong, thick shells. They're especially useful in winter when hens eat less forage.

What I've learned about preventing egg‑eating behaviour

The best time to stop egg‑eating is before it starts.

When my pullets were close to laying, I placed ceramic eggs (fake eggs) in the nest boxes. You can also use wooden eggs or even golf balls. The curious young hens pecked at them, learned they weren't food, and lost interest.

By the time real eggs appeared, my hens had already learned that pecking nest box eggs was a waste of time. That simple trick saved me years of frustration.

If you already have an egg‑eater, here's what to do:

Collect eggs as soon as possible — don't let them sit in the nest box.
Some keepers temporarily separate the hen to interrupt the behaviour, although results can vary depending on the cause.
Check for thin‑shelled eggs — if shells are weak, add more calcium (crushed oyster shell or eggshells).
Keep nest boxes dark (hanging a dark curtain over the entrance can help).

What about feeding eggs back to hens? (ethical note)

Some keepers feed eggs back to their hens as a protein supplement. That's fine, as long as the eggs are cooked and chopped.

But if you're feeding eggs because your hens are eating their own eggs, you're masking the problem, not solving it. Fix the behaviour first.

Quick summary table

Raw eggs? ❌ Strongly discouraged.
Cooked eggs? ✅ Yes, chopped or scrambled.
Eggshells? ✅ Yes, dried and crushed.
Fake eggs in nest boxes? ✅ Highly recommended for young pullets.

Final Verdict

Can chickens eat eggs? Cooked eggs, yes (chopped or scrambled). Raw eggs, strongly discouraged.

Do: feed cooked, chopped eggs as an occasional protein boost
Do: dry and crush eggshells for calcium
Do: use ceramic eggs to train young pullets
Don't: feed raw eggs
Don't: feed whole cooked eggs that look like real eggs

A few chopped, cooked eggs once in a while won't hurt your hens. But raw eggs can start a behaviour that's hard to stop. Keep raw eggs for the nest box and cooked leftovers as occasional treats.

It may be worth checking your nest boxes — especially if your pullets are close to laying age.

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