countrytalkandtips.myfreeforum.org

Camile · Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:57 am Post subject: Eggs stolen

Hello,

it's been twice now that I forget to bring the eggs in ... and twice they complitely vanish from the hutch they were in !

no signs of any broken shells, yoke or anything whatsoever ...

I must had that they were right under the bedroom window .. and didn't hear a thing ...

could that be that fox playing up with me again ?

I thought crows or magpies would break the eggs somehow .. but those seems to be taken away ..

Thanks,
Camile

phil · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:10 pm Post subject:

Thats happened to me a couple of times, but i put that down to the birds egg laying cycle, laying late one day missing the next day and laying early on the third.Ionly have a few laying birds so every now and then they must be on the same body clock.How trustworthy is your own dog its happened with mine when he thinks he can get away with it.

Camile · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:01 pm Post subject:

Hi phil.

well I had put them eggs aside to bring them in but forgot them ...

so those had been layed allright ...

it was all at night and the dog was in ... so it can't be her ...

only time will tell ... or if once I get the fox and no eggs disappear no more .. that would explain it ...

Camile

chook · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 305 Location: North Clare

Had the same problem right through July and eventually caught the culprit on camera:

They are incredibly quick - 3-4 seconds in and out, that's why I never saw them.
I lost around 6 eggs/day, that's 2 Euro/day or more where hatching eggs are concerned. Extremely annoying given current feed prices.

Finally managed to get a corvid trap the other day (Larsen trap). Will try to trap them and release a few miles away. Apparently that upsets them sufficiently. Having said that, the pressure has eased a bit as the young ones seem to have moved away anyway.

chook

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Hoodies can be a persistant problem unless they are seriously put off!!!. Shooting will do this of course even if you only shoot one and hang it up in plain view. Releasing them may work providing you take them from your place to the south coast mate Very Happy

. Even then!!!!!!! Dont be soft and protect your eggs. Like the Hoodie would. Wink

Good luck.

_________________
Leave not a trace.