There was a broody that had hatched all the good eggs and was setting on three duds, so I left her crate door open. She is in an XL plastic dog crate inside the run with other birds around. Since all the good eggs were hatched, I just opened the door to the crate and let her have free run, and other birds come inside. The next day, no eggs, no shells, no nothing, just a broody foisted off her nest, still walking a little bit like she would like to brood. . I got there late for feeding time and their feeder was empty. I had an egg from another run in my hand and set it down on the bedding to free my hands to hook on their waterer and those two biddies dove for that egg like it was live crickets. I mean DOVE! I snatched it away from them, grabbed them both and crated them, then I filled their food, and put it in the middle of the run, and to test the other hens, I put that egg right in the middle of their food and stepped far back to watch. The others seemed interested in it, but none of them pecked it. I am hoping that means they are not egg eaters. If they ever had an opportunity and a good chance, this was it. Hopefully that is the end of it.
