Why does a broody chicken eat her eggs ?

[misty7850]

I have 2 chickens that have gone broody. So I decided to let them set.
My silkie was setting on 6 eggs, but a few days later, she only had one. My husband says he saw her pecking at one of the eggs.
She also moves from the nest after a few days and starts setting on different eggs in another nest. Is this common behavior ?

I also have a black australorp who went broody, but she is on the nest for awhile, then off the nest for a while.. She leaves the nest for as long as 2-3 hours unattended. Is this common behavior ?

 

[Picco]

I've had the same problem with broodies, if they aren't good at their job they tend to be a bit rough and break their eggs. Also if you have other chickens in the coop it could be that your other hens are fighting with your broody to use the nest and the squabble results in broken eggs. I don't think your hen is eating the eggs but if an egg breaks all chickens will eat it.

 

[misty7850]

Thanks, I do have other chickens in the coop. Perhaps I should take them out of the main coop and put them in the smaller on. Right now that one is empty.