Hallow's Eve
2 weeks ago
Monday, 14 May 2007
Ble mae wyau wedi mynd???
We have three pot eggs that we keep in the nest boxes to remind the hens where they should be laying. This morning when I let the hens out, all three pot eggs were in the nest boxes as usual. At about midday, Greg checked for eggs, and two of the pot eggs were gone. We have completely cleaned out the hen house in case the pot eggs somehow got buried under the bedding but they are just gone. Does anybody know of an animal that would steal them? We are completely baffled...
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7 comments:
I've heard of rats stealing eggs. Could there be a rat in the area?
Yes, there certainly are rats about, and yes, I know that rats steal eggs, but surely the rats are intelligent enough not to steal a ceramic egg??? I must admit though, you could be right, as we can't think of any possible other ideas...
As a confirmed rat-hater I kind of like the idea of the rat getting home with it's stolen booty only to find the eggs completely impervious & inedible It might put it off trying again!
There's a thought...
How far do you think a rat could carry an egg?
How far could a rat carry an egg? Hmm, that has a kind of Zen 'What is the sound of one hand clapping?' quality, doesn't it? :-)I suppose it'd depend on the size of both rat & egg. As I understand it they roll them away. I wouldn't imagine it'd go too far. Apparently they often use 'passages' under such things as sheets of corrugated iron. Or live under the henhouse itself - we've raised ours off the ground to discourage this. Perhaps some investigation would uncover the route and then you could lay some bait or whatever.
Right, I've just gone out and moved the hen house, and yes, there has been something under it, as there's a little hollowed out area and two small piles of layers pellets...but no pot eggs... I've put it up on a couple of bits of wood -- how high have you raised yours?
The next nearest shelter is a hedge about 18 feet away -- and if the rats have taken the pot eggs in there, I will never find them...
We have 2 chicken houses - one is raised about 9" and the other about 12" (sorry - I'm old enough to be more comfortable with imperial measurements!). I'd recommend a minimum of 12". We've used bricks & some old concrete lintels that were lying around and it all seems quite stable.
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