Egg thief or chicken prank?

[Josie]

I can see our chickens nest from inside the house, which is convenient because I can see when both our layers have laid.

Today I noticed that we had two eggs, but it was a couple of hours before I could go out and get them. When I did, there was only one egg!

The girls have laid one a day since summer pretty consistently, but this week we were short three eggs, two one day and one on another occasion. Until today I thought it was because they were mad because I moved some of their furniture around.

Is something taking the eggs?
or
Are the girls eating them and leaving no trace of the evidence?
or .....?

 

[crazychickens]

Do you have a closed coop? or could an animal get in?
What age are your hens? They sound young if they are still laying 1 egg a day, so is one molting?

A few of mine are molting, so they are not laying eggs right now, but they still go in the nesting boxes and sit on the other hens eggs.

Good luck

 

[nccatnip]

Snake???

 

[rooster-red]

If the chickens were eating the eggs you would find egg white and yolk in the bedding, they can't eat one without leaving traces.

Moving things in the coop can upset them and cause them not to lay.

Snakes will swallow eggs whole without a trace but unless you live in a warm climate or keep your coop heated it is unlikely to have an active snake in the winter cold.

Racoons will carry eggs off, but will also kill the chickens if they can get that close.

Possums are also egg thiefs, usually won't try to kill the adult chickens.

Dogs also make excellent egg thieves, and of course humans do too.

 

[MissPrissy]

Look at the beak for signs of the yolk. They can eat an egg and not leave one piece of evidence except they can't wipe their mouth.

 

[texaschickmama]

Don't really know, could be a number of things. Since you can see the nest boxes from inside, have a stakeout and see exactly what is going on. Then, make sure you tell us, I love a good mystery. Oh, yeah, pics would be nice too.

 

[MissPrissy]

Put a golf ball out there too. See if it goes missing.

 

[Josie]

Ooooh I like the golfball idea MissPrissy, what would that tell me?

Here are some pictures:
This is the view from inside the house of todays eggs

These are my two layers:

I live in an urban area, this picture is just so you can see how close our neighbors are. There are no raccoons, the only real wildlife is squirrels, birds and wandering pets, but any dogs are easy to detect by the screaming chickens. I don't think there are any snakes.

(The backyard is a work in progress, and smaller than alot of your chicken areas, but no making fun!

)

 

[MissPrissy]

If a snake is eating eggs and not the chickens he won't be able to digest that golf ball. You'll find him sooner or later.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Squirrels will steal eggs. Seriously!