Something is stealing our eggs.

[frogsong]

We have quite a few chickens and since we have problems with coyotes and bobcats we lock them up at night in the hen house.
Twice, we've had a hen setting on eggs, and one day there are eggs under her and the next morning when we go to open the hen house door for them all the eggs are gone.

We've searched for holes where something could get in, but couldn't even find a hole big enough for an egg to squeeze back out.
There's no mess, or evidence that the eggs have been broken and eaten inside the hen house.

Whatever it is doesn't seem to bother the chickens.

We live in the foothills east of Fresno California. Any ideas on what it could be?

Thanks,

Debra

 

[savila009]

Sounds like a snake to me. They will swallow them.

 

[frogsong]

Snakes was my first guess too.

Once they swallow the eggs, how do they get back out though? I'm talking a nest full of eggs overnight.
Do they digest that fast?

 

[SpringChickens]

Could also be a two-legged predator. You could try locking the coop with a padlock and see if your problem goes away.

 

[frogsong]

It's definitely not a two legged predator. Someone would have to be pretty desperate for eggs to come all this way to steal some. Plus, I have 4 very big dogs.

 

[tammyd57]

A snake can eat eggs and then crush them inside, so that they will fit through whatever small hole they used to get in the coop. Could be more than one snake if a lot of eggs are disappearing at once.

 

[zazouse]

Ya got a snake in your hen house, i have had them slide right under the hen and take their eggs.

 

[NanoByte]

its obvious its a snake, only something that thin could slide through. And eggs are like heaven to snakes.

 

[frogsong]

I guess a stake out is in order so I can catch it. It'll be interesting to find out what kind of snake it is.
It must be a big one!

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Good Luck...that seem like a lot of eggs for a snake to get....