4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[suffolknewbie]

Hi everyone.

 

We've had our girls for about 6 months and all has been going really well...three eggs a day and they seem really happy in their . In the last couple of weeks however I've noticed a lot of poo in the nesting area, and there seems to be bits of shell mixed in with it. I can't see whole broken eggs and there is no sign of any obvious egg contents in the poo or the straw. The three girls seem perfectly happy and we are getting only slightly fewer eggs ( which is normal for winter as i understand)...what is going on and should i be worried? We do suspect rats have been around getting at the feed ( which is now in a metal bin and a rat poison box in in place well out of the girls reach) but i'm not sure this is the cause.

 

Any advice would be very welcome!

 

Thanks all

 

Judith

[Snowy]

Hi and welcome!

It could be shell they are eating - do you give them any oystershell or grit? If they do eat an egg, it is often the whole thing - shell as well (well mine do anyway )

 

I don't think there could be a link to the rats,and providing their poo is normal in every other respect, I certainly wouldn't worry - just keep an eye on them.