Fake Eggs

Fake eggs (ceramic, wood, or plastic) help teach hens where to lay and can stop egg-eating, because pecking a fake egg gives no reward.

Place one or two in each nest box to “show the spot,” and most hens will follow the cue. Want to encourage laying or broodiness? Leave several fake eggs in a cozy box. Want to discourage broodiness? Take fake eggs out and collect real eggs often so the nest doesn’t look “full.” If snakes are a problem, remember fake eggs can’t be digested—a snake that swallows one may be injured or die—so never use fake eggs as bait; instead, predator-proof the coop and remove real eggs quickly. Choose sizes and colors that match your flock’s eggs, keep nests clean, and refresh scuffed or cracked fakes as needed.