You are all wonderful. I feel like such a rookie -- I live in Napa and I'm in process of taking back my veggie garden and giving the girls 1/3 -- I put up more fencing and w/start getting my veggies replanted/organized. However, I am still having problem with losing some eggs, but I guess I shouldn't worry about it. Where I had first 3 (oldies) had some broken egg problems - put golf ball, ceramic egg, hot mustard in empty egg, milk -- and it seemed to stop; then I got last 3 (newbies) and I've been getting very broken and a cpl look eaten -- newbies are 2 leghorns and one RIR.
Sorry to ask so many questions, but this is such a helpful site.
I'm wondering if Brahma (oldie) who started staying in newbie's coop because it's larger maybe is the culprit-- but it's like every hen has experienced a broken egg, sometimes crushed and I do go out around 8 - 9 tocollect newbies and a cpl times later in day since oldies spread out their deposits. I also put new shavings every so many days to make it comfortable.
My neighbor who lets them out in AM caught mouse in netting and let it loose (!!!!) and I see bluejays routinely in and out of area stealing food.
Sorry to drone on.
