After the installation of the two nest boxes on top of the smaller coop, we've had worries about the security of those eggs. Since they are only behind one run door and can be reached easily enough if the door is open. One egg was left for a few hours on a table outside and when it was recovered a blue jay was standing over it eyeing it. We got to it before it could act.
However, our fears were realized when another (or the same) blue jay appeared in the run. We shut the door on him- trapping him. His target egg had only a small break in it, but it was far too large for him. I was able to catch him, although he bit me on contact. I held him for awhile in the hopes that he'd be scared enough to not come back.
In the future, we will start leaving the second run door open as it is separated from the top net boxes by a low tunnel. Hopefully the wild birds do not find the way through the tunnel. I had trusted that the chickens would be aggressive enough to drive off marauding birds, but I am no longer sure. I was confident because of how they used to attack our cats that were three times the size of the hens.
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