Egg Hatched but cant find the chick

[MuddyBoots19]

Hi there,

Ok, I normally incubate but the past two years my girls have done the amazing work for me. I have 8 broody girls and they are all on eggs.
I went into the coop this evening and found a broken (in half and you can tell there was a chick once in there) egg but the chick is no where to be found.
Are they eating the chicks? Or????

This is a first for me over the years that we have been doing this and I am concerned.

Thank you for any feedback,
Raina

 

[JacinLarkwell]

They're more than likely not eating the chick. Is there anywhere (any tiny little gap, even if you think it's too small) that the chick could have had access to? I've had them fall through holes the size of a milk jug cap

 

[lilmillefleur]

I think it would be pretty clear if they killed the chick.
Are you sure the chick is missing? Is it hiding under one of the hens maybe?

 

[CrazyCochin]

Hi there,

Ok, I normally incubate but the past two years my girls have done the amazing work for me. I have 8 broody girls and they are all on eggs.
I went into the coop this evening and found a broken (in half and you can tell there was a chick once in there) egg but the chick is no where to be found.
Are they eating the chicks? Or????

This is a first for me over the years that we have been doing this and I am concerned.

Thank you for any feedback,
Raina

Hello, I see you have a dilemma here, did you check the entire vicinity of the coop?

 

[CrazyCochin]

Is the place you let the hen's brood enclosed at all?

 

[MuddyBoots19]

They're more than likely not eating the chick. Is there anywhere (any tiny little gap, even if you think it's too small) that the chick could have had access to? I've had them fall through holes the size of a milk jug cap

I thought that as well and looked everywhere. No gaps, but a small little space between the wall and nesting box but no chick there either

 

[CrazyCochin]

I thought that as well and looked everywhere. No gaps, but a small little space between the wall and nesting box but no chick there either

Hmm, could you post pictures of the area?

 

[MuddyBoots19]

Hello, I see you have a dilemma here, did you check the entire vicinity of the coop?

Yes, I checked in the small space between the wall and the nesting box. That is the only area where it could have gone. No gaps or other spaces in the coop area.

 

[CrazyCochin]

Yes, I checked in the small space between the wall and the nesting box. That is the only area where it could have gone. No gaps or other spaces in the coop area.

Hmm, are you sure it wasn't just a non-fertile egg that broke?

 

[CrazyCochin]

Hmm, are you sure it wasn't just a non-fertile egg that broke?

And was a hen sitting on the remaining shell?
Sorry for all the questions.