I have an egg thief

[gwstang]

Put a golf ball in the nest. Gets rid of my snake problem every time.

 

[foreman Etexas]

I just had my first one in the coop in 5yrs,he didn't make it. If I wouldn't have, I would have been on egg duty from now on

 

[wroughtn_harv]

A couple of years ago this Texas rat snake (chicken snake) was almost stepped on by Miss Glenda. It was headed for the chicken coop. I relocated it. Chickens ended up bobcat dinner but not snake food.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Last year we had egg production slowdown so we went into the firewood storage behind the wall of the chicken pen and found two 4' + Texas rat snakes, relocated them. Right now there is three chords of oak to be gone through to find the current snake getting some of the eggs. We're donating some seasoned golf balls for their diet rather than chase the snake down.

Texas rat snakes do bite!!! Nothing serious, this one hit me twice before I could get my hand moved to where it should have been in the first place, relocated it too.

 

[TSO]

Chickens (ducks too) also have the ability to sense a dud egg, and they will move them out of their nesting area. We just had a broody hen hatch a bunch, and a broody duck about to hatch a bunch... and they both rolled a couple eggs out from under them. Sure enough, when we candled them, they were duds.

Also... We've also caught crows in the Coop. They're smart birds... They've stolen eggs from us before and don't seem to give up. But we don't mind them, as they help keep the Hawks at bay.