Eggs disappearing

[JuJu55]

We are knew to the chicken business, we have a question. I have been putting store bought eggs in my nests hoping to get the chicks to lay eggs in more than one nest. The last 6 eggs I have put out, marked and 2 at a time, have disappeared. Are the chickens eating them or do we have a snake in the coop? We see no signs of cracked shells and no signs of rats. 2 eggs also were in the nest and broken. Two separate occasions. Any suggestions?

 

[Papadavid]

Definitely a snake.

 

[justtoni44]

Only my experience...........
Someone in the flock could be eating them........... I watched a hen put one down so quick I could not believe it. Shell and all.
She no longer resides in our coop.........but we learned our real problem was squirrels.
Little buggers, pick up whole egg and head for the hills..............or rats?????
We do not have snakes here.........

 

[Chef]

I'm gonna guess you have a chicken eating the eggs too. Once one opens an egg the rest of them will come get a bite also and devour the egg shell and all in no time. They like their own eggs as much as everyone else

If you find the culprit I would get her out.


Chef

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

how often is it happening....I was missing some eggs from under my bantam hen last week, and it was a snake eating them....well he is gone, and my hen started hatching the remainder out today.....

 

[Papadavid]

If it is hens eating them, the nest will be wet or sticky. Sounds like a snake to me.

 

[zazouse]

Quote:
I agree

 

[woodmort]

I don't know. I put golf balls in my nests and some of them are missing--I found them buried in the shavings under the nests. It may well be the chickens are kicking them out then they're getting broken and eaten. Check the floor.