Case of the Disappearing Eggs??

[mother of many]

Last night when I closed up the coop there were 9 eggs in the nesting box and this morning I let the chickens out and didnt notice any difference. I went back out to check on them about an hour later and saw that all the eggs were gone. No shells, no yolk, no disturbed bedding, nothing. All my chickens are free range and all of various ages. 5 of my 20 week olds and my 1 year old rooster were all by the coop where the eggs vanished from. And practically all the other chickens were several feet away (further than they usually go) I didmt see anything out there no critter lurking and all 30 chickens were accounted for. I did however notice one of my 20 week old pullets limping slightly just a bit ago so she is cooped for now. Upon examination I found no bites or missing feathers. I am curious. Could I have a snake on my hands or something different? We are surrounded by 3 fields (1 corn 2 soy beans) and a major road out front. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Wynette]

Tough to say for sure; may I ask why you left eggs in the nest overnight? Might be best to collect them often...it's never a good idea to leave eggs in a nest box (unless of course you have a broody that's setting on them).

 

[mother of many]

Well i have hen thats newer to the flock and when i took her first few eggs she went ballistic looking for them. So I put a couple back in for her and she settled down and layed on them yet she hasnt gone broody as of yet. I was hoping she would because she is laying fertile eggs. And given her behaviour when I took them i suspected it wouldnt be long. I even had a few fertile EE eggs out there also. I know they lay a clutch before setting. But my husband is getting some turpentine and rags for us to soak and set around the coop. So *hopefully if it was a snake that wont be a problem any more. I just went out and checked the yard under and around everything ans didnt see anything but predators are excellent at hiding.