She maybe left the nest to eat/drink, came back and saw two nests with eggs, and sat on one of them as she just wants to sit on eggs, it doesn't matter which ones.
I'd try to keep gathering the other hens' eggs as often as you can so that the only ones in there are the ones under your...
Hubby just did last night. We didn't know which chicken killed a 4-month-old cuckoo silkie a few days ago. Then we found out...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/debbies-silkies.1612185/post-27795133
I'm surprised that a cat would do more than maybe "play" with the chicks but since you say the struggle spot was small, that does sound more like a cat than any other type of animal. Perhaps could you have rats at all in the neighborhood? I bet they could climb that fence. Maybe a camera is a...
Look at that one on the right. We've never gotten one like that. It's got mauve/light markings and a chocolate body. I am so tempted to keep that one, but I shouldn't. ☺️
You can't blame yourself as if mine were inside of an 8' fence, then only things I can think of that could scale that are a cat and a coyote, and our cats wouldn't have done that. I'd think a crate inside of an 8' fence would be relatively safe too.
I do not understand how a cat was able to do all that to a bird inside of a dog crate. If it's the kind of crate I'm thinking of, no normal-sized cat can get in or out of those, although they could stick their paws through it.
A camera would only help if it's got an app on your phone such as...
I would give them probiotics. That's "good bacteria". I used to give ours a little bit of Greek yogurt every day, or Hydro-Hen in their water every other day. Now we ferment grain so they're getting a lot of probiotics that way.
Any other symptoms? Do you have her on a layer feed or all...
Though mine always stay out in the rain (silkies) they won't walk in puddles, so I know they'd never step in pool. Perhaps a dust bath is a great idea though. In the shade they'd cool off in the dirt.
Ours is a 5-gallon DYI nipple bucket. We never "change" it, but refill it when it gets almost empty. It lasts about a month for around 20 silkies.
When it's almost empty, we bring it in the house can clean the nipples and insides. We put about 1/2 teaspoon of RV water freshener in it and...
He's exhibiting behavior I would expect from a 4-6 month old rooster, but then again mine are silkies and mature slower than others. What a great rooster he'll be as he grows up as he is already very intuitive as to what's best for the girls!! ❤️
Ours stay out in the rain too. They know the bugs and worms are always easier to get when it rains. The other chickens that run to the coop don't know what they're missing!
Hiya, and welcome to BYC!! :frow
Nobody makes coops like the Amish! We're in the process of purchasing a second one for breeding/growout expansion.
Congrats on yours!! It's beautiful! Congratulations on your marriage too!!