Originally posted by Nerevar:

the shelter is not wide enough to count. eggs detection radius is alot more fine tuned than the player characters. same for the range of the fire.

also : where are the hens that make more eggs on that farm?

and third : any bat raid will have a field day with this chicken "farm" any non sheltered farm with openings or windows will get wiped clean by a bat raid in seconds. so either dont kill bonemass in that world or make sure they are fully locked away.

I have 2 pairs of hens laying eggs ~16 meters up on that pillar. The eggs fall down so I don't end up feeding hens that I plan to slaughter. As for bats, I haven't had that raid yet and I'm in the Mistlands. I guess I've gotten lucky. Any time a raid does happen I just run outside my main gate and fight them outside so they don't damage anything.