Egg is gone?!

[Thechickenchick2]

So, there’s no denying that almost every issue that’s ever been known to arise while hatching chicks, has happened to me these last few weeks. Infertile, two stepped on, one had a meat spot and now an egg is missing?! Wednesday at 645pm to the minute is 21 days. There have been no internal pips and I haven’t seen much movement which I know it slows down in the later days.

Where is this egg??? Did ANOTHER get stepped on too hard where the last bit of yolk was exposed and they went into a feeding frenzy?? I’m so shocked and upset. I don’t have a place that I can put mama and her last two eggs for the next 2-3 days so honestly whatever nature has in store over the next 72 hours will just have to be. I can take the chicks and put them in a brooder if need be after hatch but until that point I can’t be of much assistance to mama or the eggs. I won’t be hatching any more until I have a spot that I can move my broody mamas and babies to in the future so this unfortunately is just a devastating learning experience if nothing else.

How will I (or will I ever) know if it was her that maybe ate it or another chicken?

This is so so awful... chicken keeping is so therapeutic and fun but certainly can be so raw at times ...


Thanks

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hatching with a broody can be a joy or it can be frustrating. I've had eggs disappear, hens kill chicks, other hens eat eggs, and chicks have wandered off and chilled. Every hatch experience is different.

Having a reliable broody separated from the rest of the flock can up your odds of success.

 

[Thechickenchick2]

Hatching with a broody can be a joy or it can be frustrating. I've had eggs disappear, hens kill chicks, other hens eat eggs, and chicks have wandered off and chilled. Every hatch experience is different.

Having a reliable broody separated from the rest of the flock can up your odds of success.

I won’t hatch again until I am able to do so. Thanks so much

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I won’t hatch again until I am able to do so. Thanks so much

It's really a joy to watch when everything goes well, so don't get too discouraged. You will need to figure out what works well for you and your situation.

 

[Amiloo928]

We recently had this happen with our broody hen. She was sitting on 8 eggs, and about 3 days until D21, one of the eggs just vanished. No shell, no blood, no yolk, no sign of any chick.

What we learned is that usually, when an egg disappears, it and it’s contents have been eaten, and not necessarily by a predator. If the egg was wiggly with the chick inside, a first time Mama, or other non-broody hens may attack it, either because they think it is a threat, or because they think it is food. When this happens, every bit of the egg, shell, and it’s contents are consumed, leaving no trace behind. Occasionally, it will happen if the egg is a dud, rejected by the broody. Mama will push it out of the nest, and other hens will make short work of it.

 

[Thechickenchick2]

We recently had this happen with our broody hen. She was sitting on 8 eggs, and about 3 days until D21, one of the eggs just vanished. No shell, no blood, no yolk, no sign of any chick.

What we learned is that usually, when an egg disappears, it and it’s contents have been eaten, and not necessarily by a predator. If the egg was wiggly with the chick inside, a first time Mama, or other non-broody hens may attack it, either because they think it is a threat, or because they think it is food. When this happens, every bit of the egg, shell, and it’s contents are consumed, leaving no trace behind. Occasionally, it will happen if the egg is a dud, rejected by the broody. Mama will push it out of the nest, and other hens will make short work of it.

That happened to the second egg that got stepped on. It had a slight crack that I had put some wax on but the next day I found it out from under her with a bigger hole in it. No one had gotten to it but I’m sure if it was left long enough with a big enough hole one would have eaten it. I was SHOCKED to only find 2 eggs. I really wish I had a camera in there to see what has/is going on. I’m anxious for what the next few days will bring. Thanks so much!

 

[MissChick@dee]

Well you said it best. A learning experience. When my chickens (pets) act like the animals they truly are I’m like....dang! Did they really do THAT! I hope you have success in the future and lots of babies to come.

 

[Amiloo928]

That happened to the second egg that got stepped on. It had a slight crack that I had put some wax on but the next day I found it out from under her with a bigger hole in it. No one had gotten to it but I’m sure if it was left long enough with a big enough hole one would have eaten it. I was SHOCKED to only find 2 eggs. I really wish I had a camera in there to see what has/is going on. I’m anxious for what the next few days will bring. Thanks so much!

I’m so sorry you’ve had such a rough time of your hatch. Our broody only managed to hatch 2 out of 8, so I know how disappointing it can be. Mama is a yearling Black Sexlink and we were just happy she saw it through with her babies. She is such a good Mama now, and babies are 5 weeks old.

We have a second round of eggs in the incubator now, with an estimated hatch day of Thursday. Hopefully we can trade pics of our fluffy chicks on Friday! You should head over to the August Hatch-along thread and share your excitement with the rest of us bringing new babies into the world this month.

Good luck with your hatch!

 

[Thechickenchick2]

I’m so sorry you’ve had such a rough time of your hatch. Our broody only managed to hatch 2 out of 8, so I know how disappointing it can be. Mama is a yearling Black Sexlink and we were just happy she saw it through with her babies. She is such a good Mama now, and babies are 5 weeks old.

We have a second round of eggs in the incubator now, with an estimated hatch day of Thursday. Hopefully we can trade pics of our fluffy chicks on Friday! You should head over to the August Hatch-along thread and share your excitement with the rest of us bringing new babies into the world this month.

Good luck with your hatch!

Thanks so much! The remaining two eggs are 2/7 so fingers crossed that at least these two hatch. The second baby that got stepped on and didn’t make it was GORGEOUS and I’m just so bummed about this experience. I had way higher hopes but I know it’s just the way it goes sometimes. I’m glad you’ve got a good mama on your hands and good luck with your hatch! If I end up with any babies I absolutely will post on the thread! I’ll be on it to see all of the sweet babies for sure! Thanks!

 

[ShanasCastle]

So, there’s no denying that almost every issue that’s ever been known to arise while hatching chicks, has happened to me these last few weeks. Infertile, two stepped on, one had a meat spot and now an egg is missing?! Wednesday at 645pm to the minute is 21 days. There have been no internal pips and I haven’t seen much movement which I know it slows down in the later days.

Where is this egg??? Did ANOTHER get stepped on too hard where the last bit of yolk was exposed and they went into a feeding frenzy?? I’m so shocked and upset. I don’t have a place that I can put mama and her last two eggs for the next 2-3 days so honestly whatever nature has in store over the next 72 hours will just have to be. I can take the chicks and put them in a brooder if need be after hatch but until that point I can’t be of much assistance to mama or the eggs. I won’t be hatching any more until I have a spot that I can move my broody mamas and babies to in the future so this unfortunately is just a devastating learning experience if nothing else.

How will I (or will I ever) know if it was her that maybe ate it or another chicken?

This is so so awful... chicken keeping is so therapeutic and fun but certainly can be so raw at times ...


Thanks

Sorry sweetie I really don't have experience in the hatching of eggs. My hen just laid her first. I just had an idea, could you possibly borrow a dog kennel from someone for a few days? Or line the bathtub with newspaper and wood shavings to keep her away from the others? Or borrow, or hand eggs over to someone with an incubator? Just ideas. It's hard to think outside the box when stressed so just shooting some ideas out there. Good luck!!!