Found nest of stolen eggs outside my chicken run

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girliechicks

girliechicks

In the Brooder
6 Years
Aug 26, 2013
17
1
47
400



Does anyone know what would steal my chickens' eggs and store them in a clutch in a patch of weeds? I was pulling some big weeds right outside the fence of my chicken run. As I did, several eggs rolled out. On closer inspection, I found 8 eggs sitting there.
 
girliechicks said:



Does anyone know what would steal my chickens' eggs and store them in a clutch in a patch of weeds? I was pulling some big weeds right outside the fence of my chicken run. As I did, several eggs rolled out. On closer inspection, I found 8 eggs sitting there.
Click to expand...
is it possible that one of your girls has been nesting secretly...?
 
Huh! This is kinda cute in a way lol.

Where were the eggs? Inside the coop or outside? What,s the biggest hole size in your run?
 
I don't think they're nesting outside, because some of the eggs are large, and my grown chickens all have clipped wings.
 
The eggs were outside of my acre of chicken yard. The fence is a four foot high with 2" x4" holes. It only keeps my chickens contained during the day, they are closed up in my coop at night.
 
I live in Southern Illinois. I broke one of the eggs to see and it was as fresh as could be.
 
It is unlikely anything "stole" them. Option one, one of your birds found a way out (under?) And is laying a clutch to brood. Option two, there is wildlife in the area that lays and egg like that and is laying a clutch to brood, pheasant, perhaps?
 
I'm sure they are chicken eggs. I will keep a count and see if more eggs appear. Maybe they are sneaking out! This is my third year of chickens, till now they've always laid eggs in or near the nesting box.
 
chiques chicks said:
It is unlikely anything "stole" them. Option one, one of your birds found a way out (under?) And is laying a clutch to brood. Option two, there is wildlife in the area that lays and egg like that and is laying a clutch to brood, pheasant, perhaps?
Click to expand...

Yes I agree. At first I thought a nurturing/maternal wild animal could POSSIBLY do this, BUT, given a wild bird would be THAT maternal, Girliechicks would have seen her. She wouldn't have left the nest.

I don't know of any birds that steal eggs in that sort of way. Some lay in another bird's nest then leave, and others steal eggs to eat them, but stealing to bring them to life sounds very unlikely.
 

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