Missing egg mystery

[Melancholy Bear]

We have five hens and a rooster. We very rarely ever collect five eggs in one day. Mostly we get two, three, or four eggs. We usually let the chickens out of the coop for a couple hours before sunset. They return to roost every evening.

A couple months ago, I marked three eggs and left them in the nesting boxes. After a couple days, one of the marked eggs disappeared. I marked more and put a trail cam over the nesting box. Another went missing. There was never any sign of a snake entering. I suspected maybe one egg was being eaten regularly. But once, a marked egg that disappeared reappeared a couple days later. I have started collecting eggs several times throughout the day.

Recently, I bought three ceramic fake eggs and marked them. Now, one of those went missing.

What is going on? I'm stumped! Can you help me solve this mystery?

 

[InNC]

Found this fella in my coop recently. The hens acted like it was normal that he was there. Makes me think he's a regular visitor. Perhaps having an egg for lunch now and then? I wonder if you may have a similar visitor?

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

I had two eggs missing recently then these two slithering bandits were caught in the run last evening. Two hens were stalking it- the rooster was outside cowering with the other chickens.
I suspect you have/had a snake, but they usually don’t come back to make a return.
Chickens moving eggs to and from is possible if you have floor nests. I don’t see how they would be able to move eggs from a raised nest (chicken fingers don’t really exist).

 

[aart]

But once, a marked egg that disappeared reappeared a couple days later.

I would suspect a two legged prankster.

 

[RubelliteRose]

Do you use shavings in the coop? The eggs could be buried in those. Our girls were kicking eggs out of the nest boxes until we increased the height of the front board. It took me a while to find one of the fake eggs. It was buried on the other side of the coop

 

[Saveria]

We have no children and my wife is as stumped as me. I had a trail cam directly above the nesting box with the marked eggs. The images of the eggs were mostly obscured with the hens. I thought one was being eaten until a ceramic egg disappeared.

That sounds crazy. Maybe you want to get roll away nest boxes? As much as I love a good mystery.

It has seemed like my hens have moved eggs before, but I haven't seen it with my own eyes. I have read of others having similar experiences where the only explanation is that chickens are somehow picking up and moving eggs, but it seems impossible.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Nothing about this makes sense.

Reappeared in an adjacent, different nesting box.

I've never seen a chicken carrying an egg but over the years two or three people on this forum said they have. I think it is possible, but I can't see them carrying it around for a few days and then drop it off in a nest. That defies logic. Why would a hen hide one somewhere then bring it back to the nest later.

The typical critters that take eggs without leaving a sign are snakes, canines, and humans. Snakes and canines take them to eat. The only reason a snake would regurgitate one is if can't digest it. I'd expect it to crush any real egg it swallowed. I know some dogs can do really weird things but this one seems too weird.

I have had a snake eat golf balls. They could not get back out of the hole they came through to get in. I have had a possum enter the coop through the pop door, it got into the run when I had them free ranging so critters can enter the coop if a gate or door is open. Sometimes critters can show up when you don't expect them but I can't think of any critter that would return a real egg.

I'm sure you've searched quite well in that coop. Thanks for the photos. I can't see a place where an egg could hide for a few days in there and then show back up.

I don't think you are going to solve this by logic. I think your only hope is to catch something on that game cam. If you do it will probably be something simple. And I'd love to know.

 

[Saveria]

Can you get a camera inside of the coop? That seems like the only option here.

Could it be someone that you live with is trying to mess with you?

 

[Melancholy Bear]

Found this fella in my coop recently. The hens acted like it was normal that he was there. Makes me think he's a regular visitor. Perhaps having an egg for lunch now and then? I wonder if you may have a similar visitor?
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My coop is up off the ground and I have carpet tack strips everywhere to prevent animals climbing. Any openings into the coop are much smaller than an egg size. It's possible a snake could eat an egg and digest it and get back out I suppose. But one could not eat a ceramic egg and get out

 

[Saveria]

No on the snakes- I get too creeped out by things that slithers, have more than 4 legs or land dwelling creatures lacking a backbone.

I have a HC apron. It’s been so hot that I opened a ground level door on the side of the run. They had to have gotten in that way.

Wow, it was like they were waiting for it to open.

I wish I was closer to you, my daughter would give those snakes a home, but maybe more would just show up.