As a chicken owner, nothing is more frustrating than finding your precious eggs destroyed with just the shells left behind. I’ve had this happen several times and always wondered, what kind of animal is sneaking into the coop and eating the eggs but leaving the shells? After doing some detective work and research, I’ve discovered the most common egg thieves that leave just the shells.
Rats
The most notorious egg eaters that tend to leave lots of shells are rats. Rats are able to chew through the hard shells with their sharp teeth, lick out the insides, and leave broken fragments behind. They often attack at night and can wipe out an entire nest box of eggs very quickly. Rats leave jagged, ripped holes in the shells as evidence of their presence. The best way to deter rats is ensuring any openings to the coop are smaller than 1/2 inch so they can’t squeeze in.
Possums
Possums are also common chicken egg thieves. They use their dexterous hands and thumbs to crack open the shell and scoop out the interior Possum-cracked eggs look like neatly sliced halves or have smaller, cleaner holes compared to rat predation These nocturnal marsupials are also adept climbers and will scale fences or coops with ease. The best defenses are adding possum-proof mesh overrun areas and blocking potential den sites.
Raccoons
Raccoons are incredibly intelligent and persistent when it comes to raiding nests for eggs. They will work diligently to break into the coop and use their paws to crack open eggs efficiently, licking out the insides and leaving the shells behind. Raccoon destruction can look similar to possum activity but may have more yolk smeared around. Keeping coops tightly locked up at night is key to deterring raccoons.
Snakes
Certain snake species like rat snakes are proficient egg eaters. They use their flexible jaws to swallow eggs whole, then digest everything except the shell which they regurgitate afterward. This leaves fully intact but saliva-coated shells in the nest. Block any potential access points where snakes could slither into the coop and use well-fitting wire mesh with holes no more than 1/4 inch.
Blue Jays
The blue jay is a notorious and clever little egg thief. Jays will peck small holes in eggs to access the interior and leave scraps of shell behind. Their presence is often announced by loud alarm calls from other birds. Hang shiny tapes near nests to deter jays and ensure the coop itself is bird-proof.
Crows
Like jays, crows are extremely intelligent birds that can learn to target unattended eggs. They use their sharp pointed beaks to peck openings and will consume the contents and leave fragments of shell scattered about. Vigilantly watching for crows and keeping birds secured in their coops is key to preventing crow predation.
Coyotes
In areas with high coyote populations, these opportunistic canids will readily raid nests and consume the eggs. They crack the shell with their teeth and scrape out the inside, leaving a mess of yolk smeared shells. Protecting the flock in secure housing at night is critical to keep coyotes away from the vulnerable hens and eggs.
Figuring out what is eating eggs but leaving the shells is frustrating but solvable. In most cases, improving coop security, sealing off access points, and deterring known egg predators like rats or raccoons can stop the nighttime egg raids and let your flock happily produce in peace. Stay vigilant and use preventive measures for a predator-free coop.
Wounds Near the Vent; Entrails Pulled Out
If your chicken is alive, with bite marks and lacerations around her vent, or if your bird is deceased, with intestines pulled out through her vent, the predator in question belongs to the weasel family. Weasels, minks, ferrets, badgers and martens wrap themselves around their prey’s body and attack the vent area. Members of the weasel family will also bite a bird at the base of the skull to kill it before feeding. (Here’s a video of how to identify predators with a simple scent station.)
This gruesome carnage signifies a common poultry predator, the raccoon. This type of predation pattern often occurs when a raccoon has gotten into a coop at night. It will typically feed on one or two chickens in this manner, then depart, leaving the remains behind.
If one of your birds seems to have simply disappeared, or if there is nothing but a scattering of feathers in the coop, run or yard, the probable culprit is a fox. Foxes tend to kill or severely injure their prey, then carry them back to their dens, often to feed their kits. Coyotes and bobcats are also known to carry off their prey, as are hawks, owls and other birds of prey.
If you are missing one or more chicks, you might have a rat or opossum problem. Both predators grab infant poultry off an unguarded nest and carry them away. Rat snakes also prey on chicks, eating them whole. Another carnivore that targets chicks is the domestic cat, which tends to carry chicks off to play with this lively new toy elsewhere.
Missing Legs and Wings
A chicken whose mortal injury was the loss of a limb, such as a leg or a wing, was the victim of a raccoon. In this case, the raccoon reached through the fencing and caught hold of your bird’s limb instead of its head.
What Exactly Is An Egg Yolk?
FAQ
What eats eggs but leaves the shell?
Foxes also eat eggs. They usually open the eggs just enough to lick out the contents and leave the shells beside the nest. Most foxes live in wooded areas or on open plains, where they dig dens in the ground. They sometimes use hollow logs for dens.
How do I tell what is eating my chicken eggs?
Predators such as snakes, skunks, rats, weasels, and others will eat eggs and leave egg residue, which can cause your flock to develop a taste for eggs, too. If your hens are eating eggs, they will usually have dried yolk on their beaks and sides of their heads.
Do rodents eat chicken eggs?
Rats will generally only prey on chicks and eggs, but if you have a serious infestation and food is scarce, they can also raid your coop at night and attack your juvenile and adult birds. … Third, you don’t want rats stealing your gourmet chicke…
What predator leaves chicken carcass?
Most chicken predators will take their prey with them, but a few will leave carcasses behind. These include: Raccoons (especially if they reached through the run) Owls.