9 eggs disappeared whilst hen is sitting?

[ChickenKeep01]

3 weeks ago today my hen started sitting on 14 eggs, so they were due to hatch today but when i went down and felt under her when i saw that there was no chicks i noticed there wasnt many eggs there i pulled her off them for a moment and i noticed there was only 5 eggs left.

I've got no idea whats happened to them, another hen is laying eggs which im letting her keep her eggs so i know theres not a chook eating them while shes off them. Im in Australia and the weather is warming up for spring now so it could be snakes but they have only just started coming out and i havent noticed and distress amongst them. Does anyone have any idea why they could be disapeering?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sounds like snakes to me. What kind do you have there?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

One thought is that the eggs could have been bad, she could have kicked them out and they broke open and the others ate it.

 

[slordaz]

She could have pushed them out and something like snake or rodent took them, a broody will know if the chick as died for some reason during incubation and push the egg out of the nest so it doesn't endanger the others

 

[SimplyLivinthatFarmLife]

Oh nooo...hope it wasn't a snake. I hope that mom just knew they wouldn't hatch and kicked them out of the nest. Keep us posted!

 

[Nksg75]

Any chance your other broody could be stealing them?
I had that happen, I was shocked that they could actually manage to roll those eggs up and out of the nest box

 

[ChickenKeep01]

Sounds like snakes to me. What kind do you have there?

Typically king browns or red belly blacks but theres the occasional tiger as well

 

[ChickenKeep01]

Any chance your other broody could be stealing them?
I had that happen, I was shocked that they could actually manage to roll those eggs up and out of the nest box

The other one currently isnt broody, shes laying her first clutch though

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Or... could the broody have eaten them herself? Do they ever do that?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Have to agree she would have kicked out any no good so if the snake took them then who cares ... would a snake steal them from under her?