Quick question

[tn_artist]

Sounds hard to keep track of...all my birds are confined to one coop and two runs.

They are in different coops and runs because chicken math and one group is a month younger.

The 7 broody eggs were clearly marked...so you knew there was an addition(the EE) and a subtraction( a missing marked egg)?
Yes.
So you had left eggs under the bush, for how long, was a broody sitting on them? Is this bush outside secure fencing? She found a way under the bird netting that we haven't kept up with since blueberry season is over. She had two eggs, in two days. Not seeing yet. Now, no eggs.
My ex in-laws said that moth balls drive snakes away, but I'm not sure that's true. Ideas?

If eggs are truly missing, I would suspect a snake.

 

[aart]

She found a way under the bird netting that we haven't kept up with since blueberry season is over. She had two eggs, in two days. Not seeing yet. Now, no eggs.
My ex in-laws said that moth balls drive snakes away, but I'm not sure that's true. Ideas?

the bush eggs could have been taken by anything.

I wouldn't count on the mothballs to keep snakes away,
plus they are toxic to other things and evaporate rather quickly.
Used to use them to keep mice out of the snowmobile in summer,
had to freshen them regularly.
Best snake deterrent would be 1/2 HC everywhere,
hard to employ during the day tho unless your birds are totally confined within it.
Best snake catcher is a minnow trap with an egg inside for bait,
set up near the nests or where you now they are gaining access.
A pile of bird netting semi-clumped up can catch snakes too.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If eggs are truly missing, you can suspect a skunk, opossum, fox, raccoon or snake.
Hens will also steal eggs from each other's nests.

 

[maryann444]

Several things could be getting the eggs. Check they are not eating their own eggs. Collect frequently during the day. Make sure they have plenty of fresh water. Check for rats which take eggs day and night, possum, snakes, squirrels. Check for hidden nests in and out of the run. My chickens lay very late in the day some after 5. If they were free roaming then I wouldn’t see those eggs

 

[tn_artist]

the bush eggs could have been taken by anything.

I wouldn't count on the mothballs to keep snakes away,
plus they are toxic to other things and evaporate rather quickly.
Used to use them to keep mice out of the snowmobile in summer,
had to freshen them regularly.
Best snake deterrent would be 1/2 HC everywhere,
hard to employ during the day tho unless your birds are totally confined within it.
Best snake catcher is a minnow trap with an egg inside for bait,
set up near the nests or where you now they are gaining access.
A pile of bird netting semi-clumped up can catch snakes too.

What is HC? If it's snakes, how high do I need to put the hardware cloth to deter them? I don't know if I can afford to do the whole pen all at once, so what would you say I should start with?

 

[tn_artist]

If eggs are truly missing, you can suspect a skunk, opossum, fox, raccoon or snake.
Hens will also steal eggs from each other's nests.

We don't have skunks here and we are in town, so I doubt there are fox around. We have seen both opposum and raccoon, but whatever is getting in is small. I have two inch chicken wire with no holes. I am putting up hardware cloth after payday. I have blocked anywhere that the chickens have loosened the dirt enough to get under the pen. (didn't see any actual holes, but they have stirred it up enough to make it easier. Whatever it is, it took a ceramic egg last week. It must not have choked on it, like I hoped.

 

[kersting1276]

I have a question as well, what do you all put in the nest boxes to keep the eggs from cracking? Don’t they lay standing up? Mine had cracks in them this a.m. Also, how to tell which hen is laying?

 

[aart]

What is HC? If it's snakes, how high do I need to put the hardware cloth to deter them? I don't know if I can afford to do the whole pen all at once, so what would you say I should start with?

HC is Hardware Cloth. Start at the bottom, maybe with an anti-dig apron.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

.

What is HC? If it's snakes, how high do I need to put the hardware cloth to deter them? I don't know if I can afford to do the whole pen all at once, so what would you say I should start with?

A snake can climb most anything. I found a dead snake in the attic of my house with 30' high sheer brick walls.
A game cam may be a good investment except that a snake being cold blooded won't be caught on the camera unless you set it to run constantly.

We don't have skunks here and we are in town, so I doubt there are fox around. We have seen both opposum and raccoon, but whatever is getting in is small. I have two inch chicken wire with no holes. I am putting up hardware cloth after payday. I have blocked anywhere that the chickens have loosened the dirt enough to get under the pen. (didn't see any actual holes, but they have stirred it up enough to make it easier. Whatever it is, it took a ceramic egg last week. It must not have choked on it, like I hoped.

You may not have skunks now, we don't either. Don't be surprised if you have foxes though. There are lots of people in the city here that have seen fox. Same goes for coyotes. Chicago is called the coyote capitol of the world. Coyotes have taken 3 of my roosters over the last 3 years - in the middle of the day.

I have a question as well, what do you all put in the nest boxes to keep the eggs from cracking? Don’t they lay standing up? Mine had cracks in them this a.m. Also, how to tell which hen is laying?

Who is laying, who is not article by @aart.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-is-not-butt-check.73309/reviews#review-18608
Most any normal nest material should be sufficient unless your shells are very thin.
I use both excelsior nest pads and the AstroTurf type nest pads. I have also used pine shavings, straw and orchard grass.

 

[kersting1276]

.
A snake can climb most anything. I found a dead snake in the attic of my house with 30' high sheer brick walls.
A game cam may be a good investment except that a snake being cold blooded won't be caught on the camera unless you set it to run constantly.

You may not have skunks now, we don't either. Don't be surprised if you have foxes though. There are lots of people in the city here that have seen fox. Same goes for coyotes. Chicago is called the coyote capitol of the world. Coyotes have taken 3 of my roosters over the last 3 years - in the middle of the day.

Who is laying, who is not article by @aart.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-is-not-butt-check.73309/reviews#review-18608
Most any normal nest material should be sufficient unless your shells are very thin.
I use both excelsior nest pads and the AstroTurf type nest pads. I have also used pine shavings, straw and orchard grass.