Neighbor called me today and told me that for some reason the this week, she hasn't been able to collect any chicken eggs. Something is entering her chicken coop during the night and breaking the eggs in the nest and eating the contents. Doesn't eat the shells which are still in the nest or the chickens. Went over and looked around but didn't see anything that looked out of place. In the past I've removed several raccoons, possoms and skunks that became problems. Just curious if any one seen this before.

One of the hens.

X2

Except chickens will also eat the shells.

Rats? Maybe skunks?

The simple solution would be to pick up the eggs in the evening. Chickens do not lay at night often.

I did say something to her about rats, but she said that hadn't been an issue for some time. Said in the past she'd seen chickens do it, but they also ate the shells. She has the nest about 3 ft off the floor along a wall. Went over and set up a game camera aimed at the nest. Be interesting to see what it shows in the morning.

Trail cam

X3

It's not that uncommon

Hayday has another good theory.

I second the trail cam.

well, what did camera show?

Its not even daylight yet. Maybe give him some time.

5000 chicken pictures

Rat

HA! That’s what I was thinking. Going to take some patient editing.

chickens won't always eat the shells.

1 collect egges
2 lock the coup up at night So nothing can get in.

This typically solves most problems unless it's an egg eating chicken. One will teach more to do it. last time we had the issue I would check the beaks for egge yoke on them when they were on roost at night when I found one I removed it from roost by its head flipping it over so it's body weight is moving with a good velocity downward cord thebground when it runs out of neck and comes to a hard stop.

Took a few nights to get them all but problem was solved.

Now if there just are not as many eggs as normal no shells or yoke remaining the hens could just be molting so not laying. Also it's getting close to winter and shorter days and hen egg production slows or even stops in winter with short daylight hours. If she wants them to keep laying a light on a timer or left on all night will bring protection back up in a few weeks.

Had the same thing happening back in the summer. Eggs would be cracked open with just the yolks eaten out of them. It ended up being a big stray tomcat. He would just bite the shell and crack it and lap out the yolks

Turns out possoms, several. She had already decided to collect eggs in the evening.

Git um!

I'd be doing the "tighten up".

If a possum that size can get in, so can a coon. Surprised chickens are still alive.

naturally remove them but closing them up at night and it would not be an issue. Could have just as easily be a coon or owl killing the chickens instead of egg robbing. I always recommend closing them up at night.

yes it's an extra trip out to close them up and another to let them out. Letting them out later also helps with reduced predator losses with them not being out early when predators are most active.

Need to show that pic to everyone that releases possums because “they eat ticks”.