Michigan

[Mom 2em All]

M2M,
Could it be something else? Rodent, cat, spider monkey or teen vandals?

I don't have a solution but I can listen and offer encouragement.

well, my vote is spider monkey..

I figured that a rodent would have either eaten or stolen the eggs completely. They are still accounted for- just murdered. I just candled the prized Show girl eggs. Three are dead in shell.

And I cant tell with the little duccle egg because it hasnt been enough time.

I just went and checked and my sweet Sizzle is back to sitting on the two dud eggs I gave her in place of the duccles. I think that once the Show Girls are peeping I will give them to her. She can raise those surviving two for me- but now the odds of getting a pullet out of that is slim to none, knowing my luck...and that was my goal- to have a couple Showgirl pullets.

The Silkie is sitting tight on the standard eggs I gave her to replace those show girls. Those eggs are so big, I feel bad, but they havent been found thrown from the nest like the little banty eggs.

I have no idea.

 

[Olive Hill]

M2M,
Could it be something else? Rodent, cat, spider monkey or teen vandals?

I don't have a solution but I can listen and offer encouragement.

This was going to be my suggestion. It's possible that your birds are fighting and eggs are being tossed in the scuffle, but also possible that a rodent has found your stash and is trying to walk off with a free lunch. Rats, specifically, are likely to go for the easiest meal they can and will be happy to steal eggs from a broody.

 

[Mom 2em All]

But, Olive
That was what I considered as well, but wouldnt the eggs be gone? They are all accounted for- just seriously displaced.
If they came up missing, I would probably have off-loaded the whole batch of chickens to my brother in law, set a trap, and started fresh and new once the rat was caught and killed.
I dont understand the scattering but not taking of the eggs...

And on the fighting note-

the eggs are not just tossed out..they had to be moved four to five feet to end up where they did- and the duccle egg was six feet from the nest, and out of the coop.

 

[chicken grandma]

Teeville 5 - when my tomatos were green, I used organic fertilizer again and they went red. That is a tip a farmer at the farmer's market gave me and it worked.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

How big a hole can a rat fit through? I know mice go pretty small... Definitely be sure that if you confine her that the holes are small enough to protect her, just in case....You wouldn't want her trapped if a rat attacked... What a mystery. You need one of those little trail cams. some are small enough to fit on a hat brim.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Does sound like something's trying to make off with the eggs. Seems like if they were tossed, some would have broken. I don't know about eggs, but we had a trailer mouse that developed a fondness for cocoa, tried to roll the cocoa container down the hall and into his hole... Do the eggs all seem to be going the same direction?
If you have time, you could lock the girls in the coop, and set out an egg that you aren't trying to hatch. Could be that the girls are attacking the intruder, and he has to drop his booty and run. If you put out another egg, without the girls he might just try to retrieve one of his "dropped" eggs and you could see what it is...? Or if you have one, you could put some eggs in a live trap? Gotta catch him before you have chicks running around.
Does seem kinda odd that something wants the eggs and so far not the chickens....... Sounds like it's coming in the daytime too, so that narrows it some, but if you have the option i'd personally treat it as a meat eater and play it safe. Set a trap, but if it continues.....

 

[NovaAman]

Fingers crossed for the others to hatch. Sorry for your loss on the pullet hopefuls.

 

[NovaAman]

On a good note for me, after talking to the IRS and my bank, my bank is going to try and catch and push through my refund. I explained the situation about needing the refund on time, and how I already filled back in january and did not know that I had a new account number to use for direct deposit. Well, anyway, I had to give the exact amount and the date the refund is expected so that they can push it through. I will still have to wait for a paper check from the state though... Apparently though, I am not the only person who has used their old account number and have had the bank reject the refund and send them back to the state and the IRS. So, fingers crossed there. Praying that it works out and goes according to plan. Otherwise I will have to borrow the money from my sister, and she will give me the hardest time over it until I pay it back, even though she would know that she will be paid as soon as the check would come in the mail. SO YAY!!

 

[Chickmate]

I don't think I ever ate a duck egg in my life.

My sister-in-law used to have runner ducks. She gave me a dozen eggs to try once. I don't think the eggs were bad or I would have smelled it when I cracked them open for breakfast, but by the time I had taken the second bite my stomach was heaving. Can't remember ever being so sick, so I'm assuming I'm allergic to them.

You can, or you can just feed flock raiser or similar -- some places even have waterfowl feeds. Ducks start out with some demanding CP needs, but they shrink quickly. If you go with chick starter make sure it's not the medicated type. Good Luck!

Olive - Just curious, why non medicated?

How big a hole can a rat fit through? I know mice go pretty small... Definitely be sure that if you confine her that the holes are small enough to protect her, just in case....You wouldn't want her trapped if a rat attacked... What a mystery. You need one of those little trail cams. some are small enough to fit on a hat brim.

Rats can go through a 1" hole. Mom, it would be awesome to set up a trail cam in the coop, you might be surprised what you see. I agree with Nova, put her in a dog crate with food and water to keep everyone else out. I'm so sorry you've lost some potential babies.

 

[Opa]

M2M,
Could it be something else? Rodent, cat, spider monkey or teen vandals?

I don't have a solution but I can listen and offer encouragement.

I would suggest that you separate your broody from the other hens. That way you avoid the common problem of other hens moving/removing eggs. I had a problem last year with disappearing eggs. It turned out to be the hen was to rough in the nest resulting in breakage, then she would eat the evidence. Wasn't sure until I witnessed the whole scenario.