disappearing eggs

[sgas2002]

I have a hen sitting on what started out as 6 eggs, I am now down to 4, no shells or cracked eggs, they are just gone. Any ideas as to what is happening to them?

 

[picklestheduck]

I have a hen sitting on what started out as 6 eggs, I am now down to 4, no shells or cracked eggs, they are just gone. Any ideas as to what is happening to them?

I had a broody and the same thing happened to me. Found out it was a crow marching in the coop and snatching them from her or waiting till she got up. I know snakes also will take them.

 

[sgas2002]

Snakes will take them and not mess with hens?

 

[picklestheduck]

Snakes will take them and not mess with hens?

It depends on the snake I’m sure, I’ve never dealt with snakes taking my eggs, only heard of it happening many times.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Snakes will take them and not mess with hens?

Yes. One day I waked into the coop in the middle of the day and saw a 5' black rat snake in the nest with my broody hen. Creepy. The snake got away before I could do anything. That night 4 eggs disappeared from under the broody. The snake stayed away for a couple of days while it digested those eggs then came back for more.

It could be something else but a snake is a possibility.

 

[3KillerBs]

I've lost both eggs and chicks to blacksnakes this year. Took one off the outside of my nestboxes just this past Sunday night -- probably just shy of 5 feet long.