The Mystery of the Missing Egg

[Pensmaster]

And to throw another wrench into it ground squirrels have been seen at my place eating them.
I have one now that’s been getting into a completely different coop.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

Time to cl9se up any hole bigger than 1/2 inch.
You could get a camera and watch to see who the culprit is. Many here do. The cameras aren't really even expensive. If its a chicken you may need to cull it as they are difficult to get to stop. If it's something else you will know what you're dealing with and can take appropriate measures.

The mystery's been solved. Today another egg went missing from under the broody and I caught my lead hen eating it (out of the next box, just in the coop). Very disappointing. Overall my egg production has been severely down (been dealing with fowl pox and possibly something else recently) but this could also be it. Out of 6 laying hens not including the broody I only got 2 eggs today. You say that it is hard to stop? That is truly unfortunate. I'm going to separate the egg eater into another pen for a while and see what that does. Thanks everyone, I truly appreciate it.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I'm of the mind that once an egg eater, always an egg eater. She'd be in the soup pot if she were mine.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

My very first hen, the survivor out of a lost batch of chicks...

 

[Ebony Rose]

Sorry to hear it. You're going to have to weigh sentimentality vs egg production & chicks.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

True. I'll wait a little bit more with her separated though before I take any serious action.

 

[cluckcluckhens]

I had egg eaters for years and the method I used was to wait till I heard them sing the egg laying song after they laid and I rushed inside to fetch the egg. It worked after doing this for weeks. Then they quit eating eggs. At first through I would see who was missing, look in coop and wait until she came out and I grabbed it. That is if your home all the time it can be done.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I've had hens with no egg song ... 5 Blue Wyandottes never ever did an egg song. It made for alot of walking back & forth waiting for the eggs. I've also had hens sing the egg song & no egg. Think the best way is what some have done = cameras in the hen house. I hope I never have to deal with an egg eater

 

[LikeTurkeys]

I had egg eaters for years and the method I used was to wait till I heard them sing the egg laying song after they laid and I rushed inside to fetch the egg. It worked after doing this for weeks. Then they quit eating eggs. At first through I would see who was missing, look in coop and wait until she came out and I grabbed it. That is if your home all the time it can be done.

I am, but there is still the broody with her eggs to think about. I always try to collect the eggs as quickly as possible. I heard fake eggs can help discourage egg eating?

 

[cluckcluckhens]

Fake eggs - We have porcelain eggs that I put dots all around on the egg with a marker. I heard others use golf balls.