Something got in the nest

[edamaske]

We have had 4 eggs in our nest for about two weeks. This morning my hen got very up set and was making quite a bit of noise not totally unusual to be honest. Later when I looked she was not sitting on the nest and two of the eggs were out of the nest and broke open. Will she go back and sit on the two eggs that are left? It been 8hrs since I herd her making a bunch of noise. Should I remove the broken egg shells?

 

[silkiecuddles]

I've heard of peahens eating the eggs or peachicks. She may have stepped on them, causing them to crack. My chickens do that occasionally.

8hrs. She may come back. If she doesn't, do you have another broody creature or an incubator?

 

[edamaske]

No, i don't we are very new to this they birds were left behind by the previous home owner. They are out of they nest away from the other eggs. It is 58 now and has been getting in the low 40s they last few nights.

 

[DylansMom]

I've heard of peahens eating the eggs or peachicks. She may have stepped on them, causing them to crack. My chickens do that occasionally.

8hrs. She may come back. If she doesn't, do you have another broody creature or an incubator?

No, i don't we are very new to this they birds were left behind by the previous home owner. They are out of they nest away from the other eggs. It is 58 now and has been getting in the low 40s they last few nights.

Peahens will sometimes accidentally break eggs, they will also sometimes purposely eat eggs( never, ever heard of a hen eating it's own chick), however when they do these things they do not become upset and make a fuss. Sounds more like a opossum may have found the nest. It has happened here in the past and the hens did not go back to sitting. The Opossum basically forces them out and they probably no longer consider the nest to be safe.

 

[silkiecuddles]

Peahens will sometimes accidentally break eggs, they will also sometimes purposely eat eggs( never, ever heard of a hen eating it's own chick), however when they do these things they do not become upset and make a fuss. Sounds more like a opossum may have found the nest. It has happened here in the past and the hens did not go back to sitting. The Opossum basically forces them out and they probably no longer consider the nest to be safe.

I know someone who's peahen would ALWAYS kill the chicks every time she set a nest. Maybe she didn't actually eat them

 

[edamaske]

How long should I give her to go back to the nest before I get involved?

 

[msmolly]

I've had raccoons pull eggs and chick right out from under the hen. Unfortunately, if its a predatoer, they know where the nest is now and even if they don't, the scent from broken eggs will draw them in. I don't think your hen would be safe if left to sit. Last year, some thing attacked my hen on the nest at night. When I located the nest the next day- I tried moving it and her into the pen (where she has nested before) but she was really upset- we did it in broad day light- and never went back to the eggs. The year before- I did move her and her nest of1 day old chicks into the safety of our chicken pen- we did it at night and it went very well. She seemed actually gratefull to be in a safe zone. So, If you move her nest, I would do it at night for any hope of success, Good Luck.