Don't they need thumbs to do this?

[tf]

Ok, this is really weird. I know chickens can move eggs, but 18 of them? Anyhoo, something started taking our hens' eggs last week. I thought my husband was gathering them, he thought I was. Then, one morning I find almost a dozen hiden behind a big galvanized trash can of chicken food we keep in their rather large coop. I also found 3 more eggs at the door of the coop - not at their little door they go in and out of. I just left them there to show people because it is kinda funny looking. We went out of town overnight and when we got back the next day there were about 6 more! I only have 1 rooster and 4 hens - none of the hens are sitting on them. I don't know who is moving them, where they were before the pile appeared and why nothing is happening to them. Do squirrels bother eggs? We have some squirrels that go in and out of the coop. I would appreciate some help with this mystery.

 

[tf]

now I think it was just the chickens laying them in a "safe" place - away from the squirrel. I did find an egg buried down deep in the bedding of one of the egg boxes - maybe to hide it from the squirrel?

 

[Jajika]

I know what you are experiencing. Thumbs....great idea.

I've seen my chickens "nosing" eggs around their yard. Yes, it is really bizarre, but they do this. I'ts very funny to watch. If they don't want an egg around, they will "nose" it quite a distance.

So, yes, they can move eggs all over the place as well as decide to lay them in some odd locations.

 

[azygous]

Someone on this forum reported seeing a hen carrying an egg by pinning it to her crop with her neck. Chickens, resourceful if nothing.

 

[azygous]

By the way, I would do everything to prevent the squirrels from entering the nesting area. They are vermin loaded with vermin - lice and fleas.

 

[Tuhmu]

It could be either then hen or the squirrels. I've read a couple of posts saying that squirrels were stealing eggs but I wouldn't think they would make a stockpile of them in the coop...that's seems more like something a chicken would do.