is my hen breaking the egss

[rockinrobinone]

not sure how many days until they hatch, I think 2 or 3 days. I went to give her fresh water two days ago and one of the eggs was cracked open and the chick was next to it dead. Today there are more egg shell cracked open but no sign of chicks dead or alive. (unless she is laying on them) Is she breaking them open or what is happening to them?

 

[neener92]

My hen is doing the same thing! Do you know how many eggs she has under her...or had? Sorry for your loss.

 

[rockinrobinone]

it looks like maybe a dozen or so still, there has been 4 or 5 that have been broke. This is the first time I have had that happen so im not sure if its the hen or what is going on.

 

[ginbart]

Look under her after dark and see if any are under her.

 

[neener92]

Perhaps she has too many eggs. I took a few away from my hen and put under another that was broody and haven't had any trouble since.

 

[rockinrobinone]

thnx! If I take some out is it too late to incubate them? I think they should hatch any day now.

 

[ginbart]

I'm sorry I was away for 3 days. Did you put any in the bator?

 

[slewis]

Quote:
my hen had 13 eggs under her to start with, i kept noticing the # decreasing, yesterday I wnet down to check on her, all the eggs were gone, well one was left cracked open and had the foulest smelling "Stuff" insdie... it was wreched! I don't know if the eggs were not fertile or what happened, but no sign of a chick.. "I have had about 6 hens set and everyone of them hav eaten some of the eggs... I am wondering if they can tell which ones are duds, and eat them anybody had experience with this? thanks

 

[mothersin2ition]

I dont know, but Im fascinated because my broody hen did the same thing about 2 weeks ago. It was day 21 or so, and when we checked, there were 2 eggs that looked crushed like she had stepped on them, with the chicks fully formed and dead inside

also there was one totally clean hatched egg- and NO chick to be seen anywhere. I have absolutely no idea what happened there

.
So strange!! Anyway, we attributed our problems with her having too many eggs- she is a banty and was sitting on 14 eggs or so. This time (she is still broody) we only let her set on 7- and 2 of them have already been pulled for lack of development. Hope you have a better hatch next time (and us too!).