Chaos in the coop

[Gary palmer]

Something very strange happened today in the coop. My birds are free range. They lay 8 to 10 eggs a day. Tonight when I got home, there were only three eggs and two eggs that were broken/ate. Also somehow a pile of oyster shell was taken from the feeder on one side of the coop and piled up in one nesting box. Any theories?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Rats???

 

[Teila]

Rats???

x 2

My initial thoughts are rats.

 

[Gary palmer]

Would they move oyster shell from one place to another like that?

 

[Teila]

Would they move oyster shell from one place to another like that?

I have not personally experienced that but they do hide and pile food so I think it is possible.

Do you see any other signs of rodents in the coop at all?

 

[Teila]

So, I did a bit of research ..quiet day at work

Apparently

• Rats make a hole in the side or end of the egg with characteristic chip marks, then lick out the contents.

Were the eggs completely broken? Smashed? Or just a hole as per above?

 

[mctkp]

Ghosts?

 

[Gary palmer]

They were broken but not crushed. Each of them were broke in two. How would I get rid of the rats? Without messing with the chickens?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We use poison in a bait box, others have had success with traps. If you have chickens you will generally end up with rodents that need on going maintenance to control.

 

[Gary palmer]

I have to say, this is very upsetting. I invested a lot into this flock. Time, money, agravation. Those are my eggs. After you add up everything, these eggs are like 80$ per egg. I'm going to have to get medieval on these rats.