No Eggs!!!!! I am about to lose my mind!!!!!

[HeatherLynn]

I could not figure out why I wasn't get as many as I thought I should be getting from some hens I bought that were already laying. They snuck off, laid the egg, and ate it. I eventually found egg shells in my carrot bed. I used plastic easter eggs. I only had em out there a couple weeks and they never did it again.

Also walking where they range you will probably find some. I have huge fears that them laying and leaving them out like that will attract predators. I send the kids out on an easter egg hunt every couple days.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Ugh! Once an egg eater... that's a very tough situation. There's no sense in feeding a bunch of freeloading egg eaters. Your options here are limited if they are determined to gobble their own eggs. Freezer camp might be your best option, and then start over with some new hens.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
Hi Elizabeth!

Did you actually SEE them with egg on their faces? Were there any pieces of shell left?

I thought mine were eating eggs and it turned out we have the world's largest population of yellow rat snakes here in SC.

If they are actually eating the eggs, you have choices. Build some rollout nestboxes, (I have a plan I can send you), try the fake egg thing, all the other ideas. Also, make sure they are getting plenty of protein and calcium.

I'm sticking with snake(s) or not laying yet. I doubt they have gone Hannibal on ya!

 

[sc-chick617]

Thanks for the great tips!!!!

I did not actually see them eat the eggs so I have a plan...

I am going to blend up some margaritas.
I am going to position my hammock under a shade tree.
I am going to put a few more real eggs out there and watch what happens.


The possible results:

We will have a dead snake on our hands.
We will have to make plaster eggs to train these bird brains not to hurt the eggs.
Or
We will end up with a plastered Elizabeth, in which case we will have no solution and be back to square one.

Sorry but I am going insane over having to buy eggs from the store and having no answer to this problem plus add its a full moon and the heat (it was 104 here yesterday and at 10pm last night the heat index was still 106). I am starting to get delirious.

Elizabeth

 

[ranchhand]

So which one was it?

 

[Ema]

 

[sc-chick617]

It was a plastered Elizabeth and I was getting fustrated so a stumbled into the coop to find out they weren't eatting them. The egg I put in there had rolled behind the nest boxes. I am going with the assumption that it is too hot. Its been like 95 plus here lately with heat index over 105.
Sorry it took me a while to get back and respond. I have been in Shreveport losing all my money in the casinos. I really missed my chickens but I had someone staying at my house that assured me they didnt lay while I was gone. I would have been really mad if they laid while I was gone.

Thanks for everything!!!!
Elizabeth

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:

Is that all? Shoot, we have been at a heat index of 110F-115F for weeks. Come on down!

I still think someone is stealing the eggs! They really should be laying by now.

Sorry Shreveport wasn't nice to you.......