I was having trouble figuring which one of my 8 was the culprit, and if they were really eating them on purpose vs eating eggs that broke.
I put an egg in as bait and stood where I could hear what was happening. In about 30 seconds one of my girls jumped right up and I could hear her hitting...
I have a small maple in the middle of mine, and I couldn't determine how to roof it with the tree there either. Not a huge deal until the hawks found my yard. I read on a post (which I can't find now!) that someone used fishing line as a deterrent. It was mid-winter when the hawks set up camp...
I had read (wish I could remember where!!) that Golden Comets are more prone to respiratory illness and death than others. If I find that post again, I will share.
I have been very careful to keep my coop as clean and dry as possible. I let the temps stay cool as long as the chickens look...