- Thread starter
- #19,101
What did this?
I mentioned yesterday that there had been an incident which is keeping the ladies in there run. Maybe you can all help me to figure this out.
Here is everyone enjoying quality time together as a family.
Timing: this all takes place during the afternoon while the flock is free ranging.
When collecting eggs the other day there had been another smashed one. I removed the remains from the box when I gathered the other eggs. This does limit my egg smasher to be one of the three that have been laying, Aurora, Sydney, or Sansa. It's not Hattie (sorry for blaming you sweetie).
Well, having discarded the remains, I collected the eggs and went back in the house figuring I would deal with cleaning up the nest later. Aurora and Hattie took care of the remains for me.
This is what I found when I came back later to clean up.
Something was missing. The green ceramic egg was missing. At first I thought they had kicked it into the main coop, but it was not there. It was nowhere to be found.
I eventually found it under the magnolia tree!
Some how the egg moved from the nest box to the magnolia tree during the day. This is the distance it traveled.
Now my chickens do not wear pants, so no pockets, they don't have purses or backpacks, so I think I can rule them out. They have no way to carry the egg.
What would enter the coop during the day and try to make off with an egg? What should I be watching for?
Most egg thieves work at night, like skunks. What could it be?
Whatever it was had to be very disappointed. The ceramic egg was not edible. So there is that. Perhaps that will discourage a return visit. Well that and a locked up coop and run.
I mentioned yesterday that there had been an incident which is keeping the ladies in there run. Maybe you can all help me to figure this out.
Here is everyone enjoying quality time together as a family.
Timing: this all takes place during the afternoon while the flock is free ranging.
When collecting eggs the other day there had been another smashed one. I removed the remains from the box when I gathered the other eggs. This does limit my egg smasher to be one of the three that have been laying, Aurora, Sydney, or Sansa. It's not Hattie (sorry for blaming you sweetie).
Well, having discarded the remains, I collected the eggs and went back in the house figuring I would deal with cleaning up the nest later. Aurora and Hattie took care of the remains for me.
This is what I found when I came back later to clean up.
Something was missing. The green ceramic egg was missing. At first I thought they had kicked it into the main coop, but it was not there. It was nowhere to be found.
I eventually found it under the magnolia tree!
Some how the egg moved from the nest box to the magnolia tree during the day. This is the distance it traveled.
Now my chickens do not wear pants, so no pockets, they don't have purses or backpacks, so I think I can rule them out. They have no way to carry the egg.
What would enter the coop during the day and try to make off with an egg? What should I be watching for?
Most egg thieves work at night, like skunks. What could it be?
Whatever it was had to be very disappointed. The ceramic egg was not edible. So there is that. Perhaps that will discourage a return visit. Well that and a locked up coop and run.
