Odd egg found in nesting box

[techbsmith]

Ok - can anyone identify this little guy? I have to admit, I'm a bit perplexed!

 

[aart]

Huh!
Can wild birds get into your coop?
Trying to think.... there's a couple birds that lay in others nests.
Brown Headed Cowbird

 

[techbsmith]

We have a lot of the brown headed cowbirds here - but there's no way any could get into the coop unless someone opens the door for them. I looked inside the coop to be sure, thinking maybe a bird flew in and I missed it - but no other fowl inside.

 

[techbsmith]

That egg does look a lot like the cowbird tho! I guess I'll be checking all the seams in the hardware cloth to make sure something hasn't created a gap where one could get in. A bird would have to do a LOT of work to get inside the coop, but that is what looks like has happened.

https://nestwatch.org/learn/general-bird-nest-info/brown-headed-cowbirds/

 

[techbsmith]

Huh!
Can wild birds get into your coop?
Trying to think.... there's a couple birds that lay in others nests.
Brown Headed Cowbird

You nailed it! Looks like something tried to get in through the top and created a small gap that a wild bird could get in through. I'll give that bird credit, she had to not only get in through that gap, but fly down low to go through the chute I have that connects the run to the coop and then get in through the coop pop-door to find the nesting box.

That gap is easy enough to fix - I'm just more curious now as to WHAT created it. I'm betting it was a raccoon. Maybe time to set the traps again and see if they've regenerated since the last time I caught/killed.

 

[aart]

Got a game cam?

It is pretty odd it could get in and back out thru one small gap.
Are your birds confined to the coop and run 24/7?

 

[techbsmith]

Yes Ma'am, the girls in this coop/run are confined 24/7. It is very odd that a bird would do that much work to parasitize a nest.

I don't have a game cam, but may get one. This and other weird things could be investigated better!

Here are some pics of the space for reference.

 

[aart]

It is very odd that a bird would do that much work to parasitize a nest.

It is a mystery...unless someone is yanking your chain maybe?

 

[techbsmith]

It is a mystery...unless someone is yanking your chain maybe?

LOL I thought about that - but my neighbors on the left are 94 and 90, the neighbor on the right is 92. Unless my evil partner in crime found it and did this to prank me....I'll know more after she wakes up!

 

[techbsmith]

Well - after a few choice curse words from me...a TON of hysterical laughter from her - yup, I got pranked. She put it in the nest box late last night for me to find.

Oy!!!