We have a broody chicken that started with 12 eggs. While checking on her, we discovered an egg or two missing every few days. Finally, with 4 days to hatch, she still had 6 eggs. That night, we caught a possum in the coop! The possum was taken care of and we thought we were good to hatch. On day 20, Brownie got off her nest for a short break, and there were ZERO eggs!!! There was not a sliver of shell or any yolk to be found. We inspected the coop and reinforced some potential trouble spots and let Brownie try a new clutch.
This time we gave her 6 eggs. Again, we had a missing egg twice over the first 10 days. Yesterday, she pushed 1 away and was sitting on 3 eggs. The one she pushed away had what appeared to be yolk dried on the outside. When we picked it up, it had a strong odor - like it was rotten. We disposed of it and this afternoon checked her to find not one egg anywhere!
Could she possibly be an egg eater? Do egg eating chickens eat shell and all? What else could be taking these? Her little broody spot is not completely shut off from the other hens, so occasionally we find one of her flock mates sitting on the eggs while she takes a break. But we cannot figure out why as many as 5 eggs are disappearing in one day or night with absolutely no evidence left behind.
This time we gave her 6 eggs. Again, we had a missing egg twice over the first 10 days. Yesterday, she pushed 1 away and was sitting on 3 eggs. The one she pushed away had what appeared to be yolk dried on the outside. When we picked it up, it had a strong odor - like it was rotten. We disposed of it and this afternoon checked her to find not one egg anywhere!
Could she possibly be an egg eater? Do egg eating chickens eat shell and all? What else could be taking these? Her little broody spot is not completely shut off from the other hens, so occasionally we find one of her flock mates sitting on the eggs while she takes a break. But we cannot figure out why as many as 5 eggs are disappearing in one day or night with absolutely no evidence left behind.
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