I also find it happens more often about the hens eating the eggs when the eggs freeze and break open.

LT GREY

Thanks that's what I was thinking. Rats are way to smart.

Once they start eating there eggs it's difficult to stop it. Try keeping food available at all times. Collect often. Try fake eggs or golfballs.

Good luck.

Coons and possum eat eggs

Well I'm going to feed more calcium supplements and maybe when the snow melts off it'll stop. mine are free range but they don't range in the snow. So it may be a situation where they are bored.time may tell.

Set up a camera and stop the guessing. You will know soon after. The issue with chickens eating eggs is best handled by making soup from the violators. You also can make the nesting box in such a way to prevent the chickens from having access to the eggs. I have a mixed breed hen that is next for the soup pot. Watched her stealing eggs yesterday from the nesting box. Have never broke an egg eating chicken. Have eaten several though.

The nesting box has a 14 degree angle on the bottom to roll eggs to the rear. A divider the eggs roll under protects eggs from the chickens. Good luck.