Where did her eggs go???? Im just dumbfounded

[Cackling Hen]

Ok I have my cochin sitting on 8 eggs for 2 weeks now. She made her nest in the woods next to my Jap who hatched out 9 2 weeks ago no problem. I went out of town for 2 days all was good when I left. My hubby and son were home. I came home yesterday checked all the chicks ect. I sat outside for a bit and Winny thats the mama who is sitting was out longer than normal and she was just swaking and pacing??? I ran over to her nest and looked in NO EGGS not even shells Im just dumb founded what took her eggs I have never ever had a problem in 15 years out here My german shepard keeps everything out of the yard... He wont let nothing into the yard I do have rats and we have feral/pole cats? could they have taken the eggs????

 

[KellyHM]

My guess would be a snake (or more than one). Could also be a raccoon, rat, etc.

 

[Joyryder]

Oh I'm so sorry!

 

[Cackling Hen]

Thank you I guess thats the chance I take for letting her sit out in the woods

I just am sick over it, She had a week to go, Its so sad watching her she knows her babies are gone

 

[horsejody]

Racoon, possum, snake, rodents, dogs, just about anything. Be careful. Now that the eggs are gone, the chickens might be next.

 

[KellyHM]

If you have a couple of extra chicks try popping them in the nest and see if she takes to them. She may not, but it'd be worth a shot.

 

[Cackling Hen]

Quote:
Thats what i was thinking There coming for my chickens next

She did go into coop by herself last night and this morning she is running around with the flock I guess it wasnt meant to be Just not knowing is killing me

 

[Cackling Hen]

well just to see I put three egg where her clutch was and 2 hrs later my son says MOM i see who is taking they eggs There goes my neighbors dog across the yard with 1 in its mouth Oh im sooooooooooo mad!!!!!

 

[kartking22]

That would have been my guess while I was reading this thread. My Aunt has a dog that likes to find nests and deliver them to her front door. She had a dozen wild turkey eggs "delivered" to her and didn't know what to do with them. She knew that I was incubating eggs at the time so she called me. Seven out of the dozen actually hatched and I had intentions of releasing them back into the wild when they were big enough. A coon had other plans for them and killed every single one along with 10 of my own chicks. I blame this on my ex-GF who thought that the brooder house needed to be "cooled down" during the day and forgot to shut the door in the evening.
It may have been a blessing because I did find out later that my action of hatching out those eggs were actually illegal and could have been fined for doing it. Any egg of a native species bird needs to be turned over to the DNR in what they call an abandoned nest. Please check your local state laws before making the same mistake I did. I was totally unaware of this before I inquired about it. I really thought that I was doing a good thing. Keep yourself safe.