Sir, It is with some desperation that I turn to your learned journal, noting that the theme of ‘chicken’ runs through it’s discussion both locally and on the othjer side of the world. A brief background and ‘progress to date’ may set the scene and any helpful suggestions (or recipes) would be mostappreciated: Hilary, Nancy and Wetherby arrived on the 4th July 1998. Accommodation was a large airy wooden house and most of the garden. Indulged over for a good six months they received a good diet with plenty of calcium, grit and remote minerals. The investment of time and food was worth it as eggs began to appear in mid December ….and then disappear. Egg-eating had commenced. Not deterred Eloise spent one Saturday morning ‘blowing’ eggs and injecting it with a warm mixture of hot mustard. Placing the warmed egg in the house with anticipation of the culinary delight ahead for the little beasties….Several minutes later the three birds could be seen pecking the egg…having a drink of water …pecking the egg….Not thwarted we repeated the procedure with a venomous mixture of ‘chilli’…this time they appeared not to require the water. Enjoying the egg and contents ‘al fresco’. The following Saturday saw Tim making an ‘egg catching’ arrangement in the nesting box. A sloping floor to a box outside lined with sacking. Daily we checked the box in anticpation….to find they had decided to lay their eggs elsewhere…and eat them. Desperation has now set in which has been heightened by the report of new egg production at Batletts Common (after only a few weeks of nurturing by all accounts). Any suggestions/solutions or recipes would be gratefully received Yours sincerely Egg-less of Frogham (Tim and Eloise)