Fertile eggs stolen in night

[Frankschickens]

We had a big upset this morning to find that our hen who had been sitting on fertile eggs for 14 days had been injured and her eggs stolen. The coop was in disarray and the waterer was knocked over. The other 2 chickens slept in a different place than usual. At first we thought a big black snake had taken the eggs but our hen had dried blood on her head and looks like some bites on her head along with an injured wing. There have been squirrels in the coop before but I didn’t think they ate eggs until I read today that they do. Also my husband said black snakes don’t have teeth up front like venomous snakes do so we think a black snake couldn’t have bit her. We are so disappointed just having one week left before the eggs hatched and are so disappointed for our hen who has sat diligently on her nest and who has been broody for over 2 months! Has anyone experienced this from squirrels raiding the nest and biting chickens? We’re going to take more measures to safeguard the coop. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I've never heard of squirrels eating eggs!

If you have the hen brood again, make sure to put her in a separate, secure place. It's the best thing for the chicks, until they are older.

If squirrels can get in your coop, I hate to think what else! Actually, it was most likely a different predator. Possum, raccoon, weasel, etc.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I would definitely look into making the coop predator safe! I'm surprised all your chickens aren't dead....

 

[Ridgerunner]

Squirrels are not nocturnal, they are active mostly at dawn and dusk but can be active during the day. If it happened at night and if you don;t keep it lit up with good lights it was probably not squirrels.

If a squirrel can get in a possum, raccoon, and probably slunk could also. Black racers and black rat snakes have teeth, they just don't inject venom.

If the eggshells are gone, it was likely a snake. If the eggshells are still there, it was something else.

 

[arrowti]

We had a skunk get to some of our broody's eggs. A skunk will break them open and eat out the insides of the egg, leaving the shell. They can also bite chickens but rarely kill/eat adult birds. A raccoon likely would have gone for the birds, not the eggs, as far as I know.

 

[Frankschickens]

I've never heard of squirrels eating eggs!

If you have the hen brood again, make sure to put her in a separate, secure place. It's the best thing for the chicks, until they are older.

If squirrels can get in your coop, I hate to think what else! Actually, it was most likely a different predator. Possum, raccoon, weasel, etc.

Thank you for your reply We’re going to get more eggs for her tomorrow and put her in a separate cage.

I would definitely look into making the coop predator safe! I'm surprised all your chickens aren't dead....

Me too! I was so thankful they were still alive! There were no eggshells so maybe it was a snake! Thank you for your response

 

[Frankschickens]

Squirrels are not nocturnal, they are active mostly at dawn and dusk but can be active during the day. If it happened at night and if you don;t keep it lit up with good lights it was probably not squirrels.

If a squirrel can get in a possum, raccoon, and probably slunk could also. Black racers and black rat snakes have teeth, they just don't inject venom.

If the eggshells are gone, it was likely a snake. If the eggshells are still there, it was something else.

I think it was a snake then. Thank you for your reply.

 

[Sneebsey]

After her ordeal, I wouldn't let her sit any longer. Broodiness takes a lot of effort on the hen's part; tending to her eggs is requiring a lot of her energy and to run two consecutive clutches is not a good idea. I agree that she has earned some babies after sitting tight for so long; maybe try and get hold of some chicks for her, rather than having her sit for any longer.

Can't speak to predators as we have different ones here than you do, but agree that you need to find a way to protect your birds and eggs against predators. No gaps larger than 1/2 inch; everything should be covered in mesh (not chicken wire).

 

[sourland]

I would be inclined to think that you are dealing with a mammalian predator. It may come back for chicken next time.

 

[Frankschickens]

After her ordeal, I wouldn't let her sit any longer. Broodiness takes a lot of effort on the hen's part; tending to her eggs is requiring a lot of her energy and to run two consecutive clutches is not a good idea. I agree that she has earned some babies after sitting tight for so long; maybe try and get hold of some chicks for her, rather than having her sit for any longer.

Can't speak to predators as we have different ones here than you do, but agree that you need to find a way to protect your birds and eggs against predators. No gaps larger than 1/2 inch; everything should be covered in mesh (not chicken wire).

Yes agreed. We found some gaps that are being fixed today.