Mystery Solved!

[Nanook33]

I recently posted about missing eggs & egg whites in the nest box. I placed wooden eggs in each next box. The other day I discovered one missing. Then a few days later there was a 6' black snake curled up in the nest box with a big tummy bulge. Gee, I wonder who the egg thief was. Now, with everything cleaned up, I left the wooden eggs in the nest boxes (just to be cautious) & the girls decided to use the nest box at the other end of the coop. I guess they are not fond of snakes, either! Here's the information for the realistic wooden eggs if anyone needs them. (You have to look closely to see which one is wood/real)

Amazon

DomeStar Wooden Fake Chicken Eggs, 8PCS 2.5" Unpainted Faux Wood Eggs for Encouraging Hens to Lay​

 

[DLA]

I recently posted about missing eggs & egg whites in the nest box. I placed wooden eggs in each next box. The other day I discovered one missing. Then a few days later there was a 6' black snake curled up in the nest box with a big tummy bulge. Gee, I wonder who the egg thief was. Now, with everything cleaned up, I left the wooden eggs in the nest boxes (just to be cautious) & the girls decided to use the nest box at the other end of the coop. I guess they are not fond of snakes, either! Here's the information for the realistic wooden eggs if anyone needs them. (You have to look closely to see which one is wood/real)

Amazon

DomeStar Wooden Fake Chicken Eggs, 8PCS 2.5" Unpainted Faux Wood Eggs for Encouraging Hens to Lay​

Darn black snakes! We used to have a lot of them around but not so much in recent years. Advantage they're not trying to get in the coop or garage, disadvantage there are more mice and chipmunks. I would totally freak if I found one in my nest box.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I use golf balls in the nests to "encourage hens to lay." Which is kind of a misleading statement. They don't really encourage the hens to lay, rather they encourage the hens to lay in the nests rather than elsewhere. And yes, a snake will swallow one if it's warm from having been under a hen. I was getting lots of shell-less eggs last fall until I discovered and eliminated a pair of black snakes in and under my hen house, their presence was stressing my youngest layers. I had to completely clean out the nests before the hens would use them again.

 

[Nanook33]

Darn black snakes! We used to have a lot of them around but not so much in recent years. Advantage they're not trying to get in the coop or garage, disadvantage there are more mice and chipmunks. I would totally freak if I found one in my nest box.

I like your emoji LOL What did you do to get rid of the snakes? We still have a lot of mice I guess because the snakes prefer eggs.

 

[DLA]

I like your emoji LOL What did you do to get rid of the snakes? We still have a lot of mice I guess because the snakes prefer eggs.

Didn't do anything specific. While my grandpa was still alive and farming we were pretty much surrounded by cow, hay and/or corn and wheat fields. Lots of places a snake could hang out. Since he passed and my aunt sold the farm in parcels it's still pretty rural but there are more people and grass cutting and yard work. We also have a lot of raccoons, possum that aren't being deterred by farm dogs any longer and the hawk population seems to have increased. All of those like to eat snakes. My dad also made it his mission to kill every snake he could find on our property for many years before I inherited it. All of these factors combined, I think, drove them to greener pastures. We used to see black snakes all the time when I was young, now I haven't seen one for years. I'm sure they're still around, just not right here - I hope! because I don't mind garter snakes but I'm not a fan of black snakes. Using hardware cloth and ensuring there's no where they can get into your coop and run would be the best way probably but if you free range and they're around they could still get in easily. A livestock guardian dog would probably also help, if that's feasible for you.

 

[DLA]

I use golf balls in the nests to "encourage hens to lay." Which is kind of a misleading statement. They don't really encourage the hens to lay, rather they encourage the hens to lay in the nests rather than elsewhere. And yes, a snake will swallow one if it's warm from having been under a hen. I was getting lots of shell-less eggs last fall until I discovered and eliminated a pair of black snakes in and under my hen house, their presence was stressing my youngest layers. I had to completely clean out the nests before the hens would use them again.

Golf balls are a great idea! I use a few cheap plastic eggs I got from a dollar store years ago. They don't seem to mind it being bright orange and I can easily tell it from the real eggs when I'm collecting. I'm old and my eye sight isn't what it used to be so a realistic looking wooden egg would be cool but not feasible for me. I'd end up putting it in with the real eggs and selling it to my neighbors - LOL!!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Golf balls are a great idea! I use a few cheap plastic eggs I got from a dollar store years ago. They don't seem to mind it being bright orange and I can easily tell it from the real eggs when I'm collecting. I'm old and my eye sight isn't what it used to be so a realistic looking wooden egg would be cool but not feasible for me. I'd end up putting it in with the real eggs and selling it to my neighbors - LOL!!

That's why I got the bright yellow golf balls!