Egg Stealers maybe?

[PaulaJoAnne]

We are hoping its not so, but.....
I know the nest boxes are being used this morning.
The eggs I gathered after did not compute.
Same goes for the last few days.
8 eggs from 30 chickens who are laying over 20 per day?

I have good reason to suspect certain neighbors are taking them.
But, I have to wait until dark to get a good look at the trail.
If there are human prints with the dog prints......

Meanwhile, the coop door is getting padlock put on it.
If we start getting lots of eggs again, I am going to be ticked.
And I am certain dh will be looking into other methods of legal "security".

Come on! They know we sell eggs!!!

 

[Mandalina]

that is just wrong. good lord, some people are such pecker heads.

 

[turney31]

We just bought a wireless camera with night vision. It has a portable viewing screen or you can hook up to tv. this should be interesting!

 

[Boyd]

PJA, you live in alaska. Carry a gun, its legal

I saw an NCIS episode that pretty much summed up what I thought and felt....

There was a convienence store owner named Shariff. He caught a homeless man stealing a sandwich from the cooler. He very loudly told him that he was never to steal from him and as he pushes him out the door he gives him the sandwich and tells him to ask for it next time... or something like that.

Out right theft is offensive. Starving and in need? If I have it, it's yours. MHO.

 

[NoseyChickens]

I just had a problem with missing eggs. I thought it was the neighbor kids taking them when I was gone. It turned out to be ravens coming in the coop and stealing them. I sure hope it isn't a person. That's just so wrong.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

We do have a game cam, but it does flash when it takes the picture. Plus, they would take that too......
sure wish we were "rich" and could install a tall fence all around a property.
We are sad we were unable to buy a place that was more remote....

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Oh, and we are WELL armed! But we will not go that route. However, the next time their dog comes around, that will be another story.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Are you sure that the eggs are actually missing? During colder weather, hens will typically slow down in egg production unless your coop is heated and provides them with 12 hours of artificial light. I have about 40 hens and sometimes during the winter I will get 1 egg per day. Also, your hens could be molting, which will also result in low egg production.

My advice is to padlock your coop. If the eggs are still missing afterwards, you either have a predator (not a snake in this cold weather! But could be a rodent/bird) or your girls just are not laying.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Quote:
We have already experianced the cold weather slow down, and production is already back up to "normal".
No snakes in Alaska,and if it was an animal, I would hear the chickens give the alert.
I am home all day.

And no molting going on either. In fact, Spring is trying to come a bit early here. The lower 48 is hogging all our snow!
The snow we do have has gone rotten, and the Iditarod is due to start in a few days.
Not looking good!!!