Animals scares chickens and takes eggs

[Sether55]

I was late tonight shutting chickens up so when I went out I had a hen and my only rooster for this breed missing. I was so scared and about ready to collect eggs to hatch and hoping get a rooster. Well before I did I looked for feathers and a trail. My rooster was outside of the coop and looked flustered. A bloody scab on his comb and then I found the hend too alive and flustered. There was a broken egg outside of the coop door which was strange and I go inside and there are no eggs. Just under my broody hen. Then I go to my other breeds pen in the same coop and no eggs either unless a hen was on them. But what was weird was three eggs were on the ground and to the side of the pen. That's never happened before. If it's a snake. How do I even catch it. Also both are raised pretty well off the ground. And doesn't eat them right away.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Could be a possum or a raccoon, but raccoons usually go for the birds... I suggest collecting eggs early or frequently and locking up the chickens as soon as it starts getting dark... set out live traps and see what you catch... minnow traps arou d the coop with a couple eggs in them will catch snakes, but I think you've got a 4 legged varmit running around...

 

[Howard E]

The original poster did not mention where they live, as to either general location or their neighborhood, but the general nature of what was found does not sound like any 4 legged animal I can think of. It does sound like a two legged kind. What that sounds like to me are young kids horsing around, and maybe 2 or 3 of them. They are quite capable of such mischief.

 

[carlf]

Sounds like a human to me.
Snake wouldn't hit every nest in one night.
Possum or coon would have gotten eggs on the nest and a hen or two as well.
We're the coop doors locked?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I think Howard nailed it. A snake eats a few eggs leaving no trace and goes away for a few days to digest them before it comes back. That’s not a snake. I’ve had too many snake problems. It sounds like you have pens that were closed. Four-legged critters aren’t likely to get in them. Four-legged critters don’t scatter eggs like that. Four-legged critters have no respect for a broody hen and her eggs, they’d be gone too. I think a padlock on the door may be a real good idea.

If you can set up a game camera where it won’t get stolen you might have something to show their parents, if you so desire.

 

[carlf]

Call the cops and file a report. Harassing livestock and theft is a crime.

 

[Birdydeb]

I agree with all of the above posters even if I am a newbie. I think the key clue is that eggs under your broody hens were not bothered. To me that screams that your intruder was human and not animal. Unfortunately yeah, sounds like a human who did not want to be flogged by a broody. As strange as it sounds (to me anyway) it seems these days there are lots of incidents of humans stealing eggs, chickens and just generally being a nuisance. Kids would just think it was funny.