Rats Stealing Eggs?

[RainForestBird]

I posted a reply to a thread about my ducks ceasing their egg laying after starting in December. I have not collected one egg for the last month, despite a 24" grow light installed in my duck's house, and a rope of low watt landscape lighting. I found an egg shell in my garden and I thought maybe there are large rats stealing my duck's eggs. I saw droppings once over the winter, but none since I cleaned them off. There is a way that a rodent could squeeze though. I'm thinking of replacing their house anyway because the long winter has taken its toll on my waterproofing. The new bedding I add every few days does not last long, but I thought it was the duck's fault with their messy droppings and wet feathers from swimming-they swim daily in the pool I provide for them.

Is a large rat strong enough to carry off a large Ancona egg? The one shell was all I found and it could have come from my compost pile. I just don't understand why they stopped laying after being so regular They look very healthy and have gained weight since the winter. They molted and now their feathers have come back in and they look better than they ever have. I got them in July of last year as day old ducklings. My Call Ducks are regular layer and their eggs are large for their size, very nice looking with strong shells. I feed a 30% protein game bird feed, but none of my birds like any other treats like meal works, veggies or fruit, they only like feed. I feed the same thing to all my birds, the highest quality stuff with the most protein because I have quail. My quail lay tons of eggs.