Hatch Disaster - need help!

CT Coop

Songster
10 Years
Feb 5, 2011
82
92
126
I really didn't know where to post this as I don't know what happened. I have a broody hen who has 9 eggs due to hatch on Tuesday. She has been broody longer than that as it took me a few weeks to get fertile eggs. I tried to unbroody her, but it didn't work. She is in my 8 x 8 broody coop alone with plenty of food and water. This morning she was off the nest and 1 egg was gone and 2 eggs were broken. They weren't crushed as if she had stepped on them though. The contents of one of the eggs was gone and it looked like it was not fertile, because there was no blood and lots of yolk. What could have caused this...is it a predator....This is a wooden coop on a concrete slab, which has hardware cloth in the windows and doors. This has been a recurring problem this year. I have had several broodies who have had eggs broken or simply disappear.
 
I have not done a lot of hatching in recent years, but I used to find a blacksnake in my coop about once a year, and once 2 baby chicks disappeared overnight from under a broody hen. They will eat eggs as well. I also have had eggs disappear in another coop where snakes could not get into, and I assumed that the broody or another hen ate them. Some eggs have been broken by the broody or other hens as well.
 
I'm not sure about a snake. Can they get through hardware cloth which has 1/2" holes? Also I forgot to ask, a few of the good eggs now have dried yolk on them. Will this cause a problem with the hatch?
 
No I didn't candle. She's been such a good hen, I never caught her off the nest and don't like to disturb them. I do know at least one of the eggs was not fertile. Today is Day 19 and there was too much liquid/yolk and no blood. So, I guess the best scenario is that she ate them. If that is it I have had several hens do that this year :(
 

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