Eggs broken open in the coop, no dead chickens, no missing shells, what the???

[BamburghFarms]

Can Blue Jays or crows get to the nest boxes? Rats maybe?

Blue Jays or Crows perhaps, yes. Rats no. I caught a opossum eating eggs once but I killed it immediately, it never made it out of the coop. I just assumed an opossum, raccoon, skunk or mink would have also attacked my two broody hens and figured a snake would eat the eggs whole.

 

[TwoChicksChix]

Snakes eat eggs whole and crush the shell inside them. After they’ve sucked out all the liquid they regurgitate the shell, so your shells don’t look like they were eaten by snakes.

 

[BamburghFarms]

Snakes eat eggs whole and crush the shell inside them. After they’ve sucked out all the liquid they regurgitate the shell, so your shells don’t look like they were eaten by snakes.

Whoooahhhh!!! No way!!! I had no idea!!

 

[TwoChicksChix]

Yeah, I’ve owned snakes for awhile. It’s actually really cool to watch, you should look up a video.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Snakes eat eggs whole and crush the shell inside them. After they’ve sucked out all the liquid they regurgitate the shell, so your shells don’t look like they were eaten by snakes.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

I didn’t see anyone mention - I’ve read that you should put ceramic eggs or other fakes (golf balls, whatever) so if they try to peck them it doesn’t work. And collect eggs quickly. I hope you can break them if it!

Someone on here built their own nesting box where the egg rolled out of reach using a paint tray, the kind you use with a paint roller.

 

[Helloworld]

Chickens eating eggs. Increase protein and calcium.

 

[starri33]

how are the shells? are they thin? if so it's easy to break them and the chicken has a snack, when I find one broken that is what I check the quality of the shell. if you have a idea of your hens timeline for laying, you can do the ceramic egg trick.. you just need to get to the real ones before they do.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I didn’t see anyone mention - I’ve read that you should put ceramic eggs or other fakes (golf balls, whatever) so if they try to peck them it doesn’t work. And collect eggs quickly. I hope you can break them if it! Someone on here built their own nesting box where the egg rolled out of reach using a paint tray, the kind you use with a paint roller.

Chickens eating eggs. Increase protein and calcium.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Do you prrovide oyster shell in a separate dish or bowl so the laying hens can free-feed all that they need?