new2chx
In the Brooder
- Jul 31, 2016
- 15
- 10
- 37
Suddenly, eggs are disappearing......
I have 6 hens that have been consistently laying for several months (2 older hens for more than a year). I purchased two ceramic eggs a long while ago to encourage good egg laying behaviors as one of my hens was laying in the corner of the coop instead of in the nesting box.
So, a couple of months ago I noticed that I was getting fewer eggs than expected and one of the ceramic eggs went missing. I thought perhaps a snake was involved and if it was indeed a snake then it would have some problems digesting the fake egg. Eventually it evened out and I was getting on average 5 eggs a day.
Now, flash forward a few months and this recently occurred: I went on vacation and my neighbors took care of my hens, feeding and watering them and collecting eggs, but not allowing them to free range. They said they got 6 eggs a day (1 per hen). Since returning home, I've let the hens free range during the day and leave the pen door open for access. I've been getting 3-4 eggs per day.
Earlier today, I looked and they were 4 eggs in the box as well as one fake egg. A bit later I checked the box again and there were 5 eggs but NO fake egg. It was gone. Completely gone...not anywhere in the coop or the pen.
So, I've deduced that something is entering the coop while the pen door is open and stealing eggs. What could it be? One of my dogs? Snake? Raccoon? Fox? I'm completely dumbfounded....
About the pen: 6' x 18' X 8' made of hardware cloth and 2 x 4's. The top is covered by chicken wire type cloth and there are no signs or predator disturbance anywhere around the pen.
I have 6 hens that have been consistently laying for several months (2 older hens for more than a year). I purchased two ceramic eggs a long while ago to encourage good egg laying behaviors as one of my hens was laying in the corner of the coop instead of in the nesting box.
So, a couple of months ago I noticed that I was getting fewer eggs than expected and one of the ceramic eggs went missing. I thought perhaps a snake was involved and if it was indeed a snake then it would have some problems digesting the fake egg. Eventually it evened out and I was getting on average 5 eggs a day.
Now, flash forward a few months and this recently occurred: I went on vacation and my neighbors took care of my hens, feeding and watering them and collecting eggs, but not allowing them to free range. They said they got 6 eggs a day (1 per hen). Since returning home, I've let the hens free range during the day and leave the pen door open for access. I've been getting 3-4 eggs per day.
Earlier today, I looked and they were 4 eggs in the box as well as one fake egg. A bit later I checked the box again and there were 5 eggs but NO fake egg. It was gone. Completely gone...not anywhere in the coop or the pen.
So, I've deduced that something is entering the coop while the pen door is open and stealing eggs. What could it be? One of my dogs? Snake? Raccoon? Fox? I'm completely dumbfounded....
About the pen: 6' x 18' X 8' made of hardware cloth and 2 x 4's. The top is covered by chicken wire type cloth and there are no signs or predator disturbance anywhere around the pen.
