100% Hatch Failure after only 3 days

[Chicken.Lytle]

I know a place where dreams get crushed....

That place is my coop. Specifically, under my broody buff orpington. I lost all of the eggs I put under her 3 days ago.

No, I mean lost. I do not know where they are.


Update: Second batch of eggs at Day 10. Candled them. YAY!

Update: Y'all were right. Snake is eating eggs from the bottom nest box. I have proof.

Update: First chick hatched!!!! Unfortunately, there was also some chicken math involved.

Update: Moved all chicks plus broody into refurbished fancy brooder cage.

Update: Caught the snake, red-somethinged.

Update: Got another snake!

Update: The chicks are doing well, even though Buffy worries about them.

 

[CCourson05]

I'd say egg eater, but was she separated from the other hens with her first clutch? If not, it could have been another chicken while she left to relieve herself and such...

 

[zazouse]

A snake will take the eggs right out from under a sitting hen.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

OK, the new clutch of random eggs is still under her. The broody cage in the sky seems to be working so far.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

Happy to report that this clutch of eggs has made it to Day 10. Candling shows three eggs developing and one egg possibly undeveloped. Will take another look in a few days.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

Argh! A venomous snake camped out in my nest box and collected eggs for me.

 

[MetalSmitten]

maybe eating the ceramic egg will solve the problem...

 

[tryingtohaveitall]

Ugh, how horrible!

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

The first chick hatched today! No clue why it pipped on Day 19. Maybe Buffy was warmer than expected. Maybe somebody gave it a head start before I collected it.

In any case, the egg that would be breakfast is now a peeping chick. Unprepared, I raced to Tractor Supply to buy all the necessary chick supplies. Tragically, they had a tub full of Production Red pullets.

I succumbed to Chicken Math. Now I have six production red pullets to keep the new chick company.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

Moved all the chicks and the broody hen into the newly refurbished brooder cage. Amazing how happy she was with a crowd of chicks around her!