Hen kicking eggs out of nest

[dumb_cluck]

I've got a mallard hen who has laid twice this year. The first time in late January. Non hatched, she was not broody.

The second time in mid March, then again (after a week or so off) some more in early April.

Now she is methodically kicking out eggs. They all have broken shells and are empty except for the last one today that had some egg whit left. No bodies were found. She is broody and has built a nest, unlike the first time.

Out of 11 eggs, she's down to seven. Any ideas? The kick outs were known bad eggs?

 

[duckyfromoz]

I have had a pekin do the same- Although she was sitting in gravel and I just assumed the eggs were getting cracked because of that. I removed the gravel from around her and built up the nest and gave her some grass and clipings from the garden to further make her nest with- but still the eggs got thrown out- Some did have developing embryos in them - so I know they werent thrown out because they were bad.

 

[dumb_cluck]

The discarded eggs had fairly large holes in them. Almost as if they were being eaten. But, no bodies. She has discarded them all next to or IN their waterer. Hmmmmmmm.