Eggs are gone and I have a mess.

[Rodney903]

I am very new to this backyard Chicken stuff. My granddaughter and I are loving it. I have a Buff Orphington that has gone Broody on us. I placed 12 Blue Laced Red Wyandotte eggs under her. It has been 16 days, Four days ago one egg went missing and I read that not making sure she has fresh water each day may lead to her seeking moisture from the eggs. Since then I have changed the water every day in her private coop. Today I found a mess. She is now down to 5 eggs and the nesting box was a mess, box was full of fly's and very nasty. I change out the straw and put a fresh box in the coop for her. What have I done wrong?

 

[Free Feather]

Are other chickens able to get to her? They might have fought over the nest and smashed them. Are there any eaten, and is she hurt? If so, it could have been a predator.

 

[Rodney903]

No she is in a private coop with run. all I found in the nesting box, under her was a very small amount of egg shell and egg white mess. 16 days I would have thought I would see baby chick parts.

 

[Free Feather]

Have you candled the eggs yet? I would do that with the remaining eggs to see if there even are babies in them. You can find candling pictures and charts of what to look for on this site. You go in a dark room and shine a light in the egg to see what is inside.

 

[Rodney903]

I will do today Thank you.

 

[WVduckchick]

Were you able to check the eggs?

 

[Rodney903]

I have candled the eggs. Four of them are solid and allow no light to penetrate, one looked about 2/3rd full and was solid so I discarded it. If we are still on track I was expecting chicks this weekend or first part of next week.

 

[drumstick diva]

Maybe your rooster is sterile.

 

[Rodney903]

I purchased the eggs from a source that raises Chickens on a regular basis.

 

[WVduckchick]

Good luck. I'm curious to see how this goes!