Egg Eater?

[Momma*chicken]

Something has been eating our chickens eggs and we're not sure what. Whatever it is has made multiple burrows underneath our coop. We plan to fill the holes and cover the entire perimeter with hardware cloth, but we are still interested to know what it is. Whatever it is, isn't interested in the chickens, just the eggs. It's cleaning the eggs out only leaving half shell cups. Any ideas on what it may be?

 

[Isadora]

Rats would be my first thought.

 

[Momma*chicken]

Rats would be my first thought.

If so, how can we get rid of them?

 

[Momma*chicken]

Rats would be my first thought.

Would it be more then one? Don't rats live in colonies?

 

[Geena]

Would it be more then one? Don't rats live in colonies?

Judging by the number of holes, looks like you have quite a few. Unfortunately poison is the only real effective way to be rid of rats. Snap traps don't work so well with rats, they somehow know to avoid them, but you might be able to get a couple of them that way as well.

 

[Momma*chicken]

Judging by the number of holes, looks like you have quite a few. Unfortunately poison is the only real effective way to be rid of rats. Snap traps don't work so well with rats, they somehow know to avoid them, but you might be able to get a couple of them that way as well.

Poison is the only way?? We can't use poison as we have a dog and a cat. I wouldn't want them getting ahold of the poison, or a poisoned dead rat. We had a dog die a couple years ago after getting into a local farms poison. Poison isn't option for us

 

[Geena]

Poison is the only way?? We can't use poison as we have a dog and a cat. I wouldn't want them getting ahold of the poison, or a poisoned dead rat. We had a dog die a couple years ago after getting into a local farms poison. Poison isn't option for us

I understand, I hate to use poison. It's not the only way, but other methods are usually a lot less effective. The dog and cat aren't interested in helping?? My girls love rodent hunting

 

[Momma*chicken]

I understand, I hate to use poison. It's not the only way, but other methods are usually a lot less effective. The dog and cat aren't interested in helping?? My girls love rodent hunting

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Our dog is interested, but can't get to them. He's tried sniffing them out and trying to dig out their holes, but the holes must be too deep. If he makes the holes any bigger the foundation of the coop could collapse. It is set a top cinderblocks.

 

[Momma*chicken]

I understand, I hate to use poison. It's not the only way, but other methods are usually a lot less effective. The dog and cat aren't interested in helping?? My girls love rodent hunting

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He's also 80lbs and brawny, so he can't fit in small spaces

 

[Momma*chicken]

I understand, I hate to use poison. It's not the only way, but other methods are usually a lot less effective. The dog and cat aren't interested in helping?? My girls love rodent hunting

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Is there a way we could possible smoke them out? Or fumigate the holes?