Mom ate contents of egg!

[Jennyo]

Our broody hen is sitting on 6 eggs and it's the 20th day. I've just been to check on her to see that there's a broken shell on the floor of the coop and she's obviously eaten the contents!! YUK!! There's no sign of anything like a beak or claws - just the remains of a a thick yellowish liquid.

I have two questions:

1) if she's eaten one is she likely to eat the others?
2) is it likely that there was a live chick in the one that she ate?

Any other advice would be really appreciated! We don't have an incubator, so can't take the rest of the eggs from under her.

Thanks!

 

[Lifetime chicken lover]

On day 20 my broody kicked 5 eggs out of the nest- they were all rotten- except one fully formed chick that had a crack in the shell. I think they listen for the babies and kick out the non-viable eggs. She also ate the contents- shell and all!!!! I don't think you need to worry about the "good" eggs still under her. I think the mama knows what she's doing.

 

[Jennyo]

Thanks for the reassurance! I've just cleaned it all up and she's happily sitting on the rest of the eggs, so I hope we'll get some chicks hatching tomorrow or the next day that she'll take care of as she should!!

 

[Amyh]

It's instinct for them to eat it, just like a mammal will eat the placenta of their young. It helps to keep predators away from the area. The smell of rotting flesh will attract other animals that could kill her and her viable young.

I think you'll be fine!!

 

[1AcreRooster]

Quote:
Never thought of it that way before, perfect sense! One learns so much here!

 

[Jennyo]

YES!! The first live chick has hatched out and is safely tucked under her wing, so she's obviously not a cannibal mama!!