what ate my guinea eggs?

[fyrwmn]

Any one knows what type of predators eats eggs? My guineas had a clutch of 20 or so eggs going, under a bush, right outside the coop.

I was planning on waiting a few more days then was going to put them all in the bator. This morning I awoke to find only 4 left.. and one empty egg a few yards away. That egg had a large whole in it and looked like it was licked clean.

Not sure who is more upset: me or my guinea hen when I let her out this morning!

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Crows will often find and eat eggs. I accidently left my daily collection of eggs out and I found crushed, missing, and hollow eggs the next day. Curious to see what it was, I placed another egg on a fence post and sat in my truck. Sure enough, 3-4 Crows flew up, pecked it, ate the insides and then flew off with the shell(trying to keep it from eachother).

Raccoons and possums will eat eggs too. I also want to say rats will eat eggs in some occasions. How small was the hole on the egg?

**I would suggest daily collection of the eggs and storing them inside until you are ready to set them.**

-Kim

 

[ozark hen]

We have had clutches of guinea/duck eggs eaten by both racoons and possums. Right now I have two guineas setting in the fields and two ducks setting in spots around the yard over piles of eggs. We managed to remove three of the above predators but the woods are full of them. When I want babies I bring the eggs in and put them under the brooder. The present batches I am leaving for the guineas/ducks to raise themselves. Oh, skunks will make a meal of eggs also.