Missing Eggs x 2w- Predator??

[buschkn]

We have three chickens who have been great egg producers. They are all about 1yo now. We almost always would get 2-3 eggs a day. Even all winter they would lay. We also have a pet male turkey and mallard duck and they all live together if that matters. No change in feed or environment.

All of a sudden about 2w ago we stopped getting eggs. My husband is TERRIFIED it’s a snake but I don’t think a snake would eat 3 eggs a day for 2w. I’m also assuming all three wouldn’t quit laying all at once. The birds are all totally fine and the eggs were normal before it stopped. Any ideas what to trap/kill/look for? Thanks!!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Great weather often invites hidden nests. If one gets the bright idea... monkey see, chicken do! That's my hugest culprit to missing eggs this time of year.

Other options are someone is eating them themselves... or rats even.. but I would expect to see a mess left behind or some evidence. Opossum like eggs but they eat chicken as well, and I figure you're talking about daytime disappearance.

Pay attention and see where they are hanging out waiting for their turn during the morning... or go into lockdown for a couple days make your girls lay in their box and retrain them I do this every year if needed. I might let them out int he afternoon once laying has completed or watch for their beeline to the lay spot. Do you have fake eggs in your nest? It can be helpful.

 

[buschkn]

The one who always sits on the eggs still sits in the same box every day and there is not really anywhere they could hide a nest. No egg remnants visible. I hate to lock them in since it’s so hot right now. They have a coop and separate yard within our back yard. Our dogs help keep predators away from them. Sigh.

 

[Kyanite]

I had a duck nest get cleared out the other day. It was inside my barn. We have a livestock guardian dog and electric fencing. The dog can't access the nesting areas. We're pretty sure it was a rat, or some form of rodent. That's about the only thing that could get past the dog and into a small area.

 

[50-45-1]

The one who always sits on the eggs still sits in the same box every day

This sounds like you may have a broody hogging the nest box and causing the others to lay their eggs elswhere.
Do you have more than one nest box? Try putting golf balls in the other nests. Or break your broody so the favorite nest box is freed up.