egg theft

[red]

had 12 eggs under our broody and now there are only 2.... she is in a broody coup.. but think.. rats...

[Ratty]

Thats a huge number to lose. Rats would have to be pretty hungry and determined to take whole eggs, have you seen rat activity nearby?

[Teasal]

Thats a blow ....If its rats, they are a bit cheeky to go under the broody for them ...

My egg numbers are down, and I know the hens are laying. On the days I am not at work, and can collect the eggs I get a lot more that on the days when I am not there all day!! Its not magpies, as the big bird of prey seem to have scared them off, and I am sure its not squirrels. I have seen some scratching of earth under the floor, so have now put some bait down.

[red]

I haven't seen rat activitiy - but there are always rats.

they might have gone one at a time, as we have not disturbed the hen, just today she was having her moment off the next for food water etc and we looked. there is no mess, no shell. The coop is meshed.. apart from the underside of the outside bit. there are no obvious burrows. the coup is inside a covered hen run, so really.. think rats are the only answer. have set a trap.

gutted though

[Treedweller]

I really do think it is rats that are stealing your eggs. Rats will take the whole egg. They will
also store eggs. Very smart they are. Years ago had a neighbor that had fifty Barred Rock hens.
She was upset because no eggs at all. Looked the hens over and their vents said they were laying.

She thought they had just stopped laying. A couple of months later. She had to tear her back porch down. It was falling down on it's own. I went to help her. The porch was the old type that
was like a big box on the ground. We started tearing bottom boards off. Here were dozens and
dozens of of eggs, not a broke one in the bunch. All stacked neatly in rows! Never saw anything
like this in my life. Laughed myself silly over the sight. Also about a dozen rats took off too.

We did another check of the hen house for rat holes. The hole and only one hole was there,we missed it the first time. The cheeky buggers had it covered up and we only found it by digging
around. Raccoons usually make a hole in the egg and you will find egg shells. Chickens that are
egg eaters will leave a slimy mess in the nest

If you set a trap put something over it,that only a rat can get in. Chickens will get their necks broke in traps. Learned that the hard way.

[red]

yeh Im sure its rats noww. found a run...

the trap we have is a live catch one, and not vicious snap.. so think hens will be ok..

still gutting to have them taken from the broody coup.. hwo they made it out with whole eggs is a mystery,. We are going to give it a solid floor next time.. hope that does it..

[Teasal]

I have seen a rat take an egg. It scooped it up in its front paws, quickly rolled on to its back, and another rat dragged it backwards still holding the egg, and into a hole in the wall. They must be pretty bright to realise that the egg is easily broken. Wonder how it broke the egg to eat it. Bright enough to hit it with something maybe!!!

[Treedweller]

We have raised pet rats on and off over the years. Grandma and Grandpa get gifts from our grandchildren.
This happens when their Mum and Pop says the Rats have to go. LOL
Those little guys can do just about anything. The fact that they work together always amazes me. Rats and Crows
always are under rated as to how smart they are.

The old farmer's saying in these parts. See one rat add nine more unseen. See one rat hole or tunnel count ten
rats working on that hole.