Hi there! I have a broody Barred Rock that I put some fertilized eggs underneath. The other day as I was checking them, she kicked, and accidentally cracked one of the eggs. It wasn't bad, so I left it. Today that egg is gone completely. I found a few scraps of sticky shell, with a bit of blood. Did she eat it, do you think?
Yes they will eat them or if she is in with other birds, they might have eaten it. Just had that happen with one of our broodies. Didn't have an empty brooding pen for her so left her in the hen house until one opened up. Went in one morning and saw a broken shell and chick was gone. A bit of blood. Not sure if she ate it or if one of the other birds did.