Pest problem

[Kmooneyhan3910]

Something is either pecking or getting into my eggs it’s a very small hole, I tried the mustard in the egg trick, but whatever was eating on it ate the mustard and now the entire egg shell
HELPPPPP PLEASEEEEE!!!!!

 

[LoveDatChickenLife]

If it’s was a chicken they would have finished it off. I’m not with bugs... but I’ll try my best to help.

Clean the coop more. Maybe once every three weeks, or a little more or less.

Check under their feathers for bugs, I think you should see them instantly.

Check the nest boxes too. Clean thoroughly.

If there’s ants, use cinnamon around the coop. If snails, use eggshells.

 

[Folly's place]

I've had chickens do this; did you interrupt the egg eater? Is it a bird who hasn't figured it all out yet? Try to collect the eggs more often, and try to watch what's happening out there. It may be only one bird, and possible to ID the culprit.
Mary

 

[Kmooneyhan3910]

If it’s was a chicken they would have finished it off. I’m not with bugs... but I’ll try my best to help.

Clean the coop more. Maybe once every three weeks, or a little more or less.

Check under their feathers for bugs, I think you should see them instantly.

Check the nest boxes too. Clean thoroughly.

If there’s ants, use cinnamon around the coop. If snails, use eggshells.

Thank you any help helps me and it definitely helped tomorrow I’m probably gonna watch more closely since I have nothing else to do

 

[Kmooneyhan3910]

I've had chickens do this; did you interrupt the egg eater? Is it a bird who hasn't figured it all out yet? Try to collect the eggs more often, and try to watch what's happening out there. It may be only one bird, and possible to ID the culprit.
Mary

I have not caught the culprit in the act and I’m not positive that it’s one of my chickens, if even a bird at all I would’ve figured that a bird would eat more of it and make a bigger mess with it, but after the mustard trick I would’ve thought that it wouldn’t be a bird bc the mustard is supposed to be nasty to the birds is what I read, so they wouldn’t eat it, but any help is very much accepted bc I’m tired of going outside and seeing that a small hole is in 50% of my eggs

 

[Hyroler]

one of chickens is guilty.It might be doing it by accident.Sometimes before hen lays she will gather up surrounding eggs to sit on while she lays.Maybe she is poking holes in them when she moves them.It doesnt take much to poke hole in egg with beak especially if egg shells are thin from lack of calcium.I suggest checking eggs after each hen lays until you find culprit.I had this problem when broody hen was stealing eggs to sit on.

 

[venymae]

We had a hen who was doing this, always one poke in a single brown egg. Not sure why, it went on for about three months and then suddenly stopped. Hope it's just a calcium issue. If it comes to full blown egg eating ceramic eggs sometimes help.

 

[The Moonshiner]

You have rats?
I've had rats do that.
They just put a little hole and suck egg through it.
And rats eat anything it seems so wouldn't put it past them to eat mustard.

 

[Hyroler]

You have rats?
I've had rats do that.
They just put a little hole and suck egg through it.
And rats eat anything it seems so wouldn't put it past them to eat mustard.

I know rats like mustard on there hotdogs.Rats are possibilty except they usually wont come out during daytime.if you are collecting eggs everyday and eggs arent in nesting area during night I dont think it would be rats.

 

[Caramel650]

View attachment 1329059 View attachment 1329061 Something is either pecking or getting into my eggs it’s a very small hole, I tried the mustard in the egg trick, but whatever was eating on it ate the mustard and now the entire egg shell
HELPPPPP PLEASEEEEE!!!!!

View attachment 1329059 View attachment 1329061 Something is either pecking or getting into my eggs it’s a very small hole, I tried the mustard in the egg trick, but whatever was eating on it ate the mustard and now the entire egg shell
HELPPPPP PLEASEEEEE!!!!!

I am an exterminator and have been for almost 15 years now. I also love chickens all though I haven't had any for several months now due to my chickens being eaten by a possum, but that's another story. I used to have my chickens inside a chicken coop but found that rats were burrowing from the exterior and entering under the coop and attacking and dragging out my small bantams. The water feeders and chicken feed is a major attractant to rats and mice and they will also go for the actual chickens as well as eggs. I have seen them puncture eggs to drink the fluids. Rats need water daily and this is a source. If they are in a coop, you need to rodent proof it so NO rodents can access it. Good luck!!