Eggs disappeared from under broody hen?

[ColinK48]

My broody hen has been sitting on eggs for 21 day. Yesterday I checked and there were three eggs that had pipped and had small holes in them. This morning I went out expecting some to have hatched, and they were all gone. Every egg disappeared from her nest. I checked everywhere for any residue and there is nothing. It is heartbreaking to me. I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience or has any ideas on what happened?

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

Snake?

 

[ValerieJ]

Is the hen still on the nest? Are there other chickens around? I'd be looking for chicks. Could they have wandered away from her? Maybe afraid of other hens or something?

 

[ColinK48]

Is the hen still on the nest? Are there other chickens around? I'd be looking for chicks. Could they have wandered away from her? Maybe afraid of other hens or something?

I gently picked up the hen and there is no eggs. She is sitting on the nest but there are no eggs to be found. There are other chickens around. I did lots of research and decided to keep her with the other chickens. I know there are pros and cons to both methods. I was planning to separate them after they hatched.

 

[ColinK48]

Snake?

I guess it could have possible been a snake. Although I find it weird that there would be no residue that I could find.

 

[ValerieJ]

I guess it could have possible been a snake. Although I find it weird that there would be no residue that I could find.

Or the snake. Seems like it would be there digesting. Also seems to me that the chicken would attack the snake. Have you looked everywhere for little chicks? I had one fall out of my coop once, probably actually fell down the stairs, but was too small to get back up and was running around under the coop. I scooped it up and put it back with mom. I also had other hens around and mom was very protective so no mishaps that way.

 

[ValerieJ]

This is a long shot, but the babies are very small at first and there was only 3. Is it possible they are tucked under her wings? I was surprised to find no residue after the babies hatched, not even egg shell. The mom must eat it or something.

 

[ColinK48]

This is a long shot, but the babies are very small at first and there was only 3. Is it possible they are tucked under her wings? I was surprised to find no residue after the babies hatched, not even egg shell. The mom must eat it or something.

I looked under her wings and feathers. She is now walking around seeming confused.

 

[ColinK48]

I looked under her wings and feathers. She is now walking around seeming confused.

I could not find any chicks in her feathers.

 

[ValerieJ]

That is so sad.