Surprise for an egg thief

[Callender Girl]

If my runners haven't laid before I let them out to free range for the day, it turns into a scavenger hunt for me. Since Sloane is often the first to lay outdoors, I learned her favorite place and put a fake egg in her "nest" to encourage the others to lay there, too.

Today, I went out and the fake egg, which was there last night when I cooped everyone, is gone. Some little night time thief did not enjoy a juicy treat.

When the recent derecho knocked down a huge squirrel nest, I found a number of the little trinkets I had used to decorate my potted plants nestled in with the twigs and feathers. Would a squirrel steal an egg -- not to eat, but just to redecorate?

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I had a loitering skunk eat an egg my Runners left in the barn that I failed to find first (those Runners and laying where they please ), but haven't personally had any thefts by squirrel. There are discussions, like in this thread, about squirrels eating eggs, though.

 

[Flyinbolts]

I've had my ducks get rid of the fakes. doesn't matter which color or size they knock it away like a pingpong ball.

Skunks, possum, raccoons, snakes, fox, coyote, etc... will all eat eggs.

Only real way to tell is to sit and watch or put up a camera to catch the thief.

 

[Callender Girl]

I knew about all the others but never thought about squirrels eating eggs. Thanks for the heads-up; I checked out the thread and now have one more reason not to appreciate the little thieves -- who also managed to ruin my container garden of sweet potatoes, onions and radishes.

My runners must be easily fooled -- gullible runners. They had been laying alongside the fake for a couple of weeks.