Hen eating eggs?? Mysteriously?

[heby]

I have a broody that I put 12 eggs under. She is actually sitting in a long plastic crate because that is where she originally started sitting. There is also a rooster and one other hen in the same pen with her. One day the broody was up and I only counted 10 eggs but thought mayb I could've miscounted. My husband then found some of an egg shell on other side of the pen about a day later. This morning my husband called me outside and said that there are now 8 eggs and he seen the other hen inside pen eating some of a shell. But the worst part is that he said he noticed one of my free range hens running with something in her mouth. When he got to her, it was a baby chick.

I'm not sure how the eggs are getting out one at a time and how the hen from outside even got ahold of it. My eggs are set to hatch on Monday. Any ideas as to what could be going on and how to stop it?? I don't ever see any of them with a whole egg or big shell. I have given them egg shells before but always dried out or cooked and crushed.

 

[Judy]

It is possible they are "taking care of" chicks that have died. I have had broodies do this. If they want to, chickens can pick up an egg and carry it. They do this by tucking it under their "chin,' or they can catch an egg under a wing and carry it. Or of course they can kick it out and roll it around.

I have let broodies set on eggs in with the flock but some eggs would get broken from the activity in the nest. Now I separate the hen for the setting and let her and her chicks in with the flock after they have hatched.

 

[chickenKatie17]

Some times if the chicken knows that an egg is no good, they will eat it. I don't know if chickens do this, but when my rabbit had babies, one was deformed, and she kicked it out of the nest. Maybe some of the eggs are rotten, or the chicken knows the chick will be deformed so she is kicking the eggs out of the nest.

 

[heby]

It is possible they are "taking care of" chicks that have died. I have had broodies do this. If they want to, chickens can pick up an egg and carry it. They do this by tucking it under their "chin,' or they can catch an egg under a wing and carry it. Or of course they can kick it out and roll it around.

I have let broodies set on eggs in with the flock but some eggs would get broken from the activity in the nest. Now I separate the hen for the setting and let her and her chicks in with the flock after they have hatched.

Some times if the chicken knows that an egg is no good, they will eat it. I don't know if chickens do this, but when my rabbit had babies, one was deformed, and she kicked it out of the nest. Maybe some of the eggs are rotten, or the chicken knows the chick will be deformed so she is kicking the eggs out of the nest.

Wow. I'm amazed. I never knew chickens could pick up eggs. I have never seen her or the other hen do it. It just seemed so odd that within the last week or so, they have started going missing. I don't know what happened to the other egg and chick, we only seen one today but I know 2 went missing.

I think I may let the other chickens out to roam with the others until she is done. Last time we moved her she got upset and totally left them even tho we did it at night and quickly. She is very picky.


Would the chicken know the egg is bad this late in the process or the chick is deformed before hatching? They only have 2 more days left. If she is kicking the eggs out, then it is some big kicking to get the egg over the high sides of box. It is just so sad. Now I only have 8 EE eggs left. I'm hoping the majority isn't roos.