Broody Fowel Sat On 8 Egg,s & 4 Have Gone Missing

[buster gonads 862]

Kept fowels for about 12 years but only hatched my own off once before, any way i put 8 marked eggs under a broody and 4 have gone, no sign of any shell, and apart from feeding and drinking she sits tight, i,v got a live rat trap set but havent caught owt, whats taken them, i,v never had any eggs gone before, 6 fowels, 6 eggs every day untill one went broody, any ideas lads.

[bullx100% 681]

Kept fowels for about 12 years but only hatched my own off once before, any way i put 8 marked eggs under a broody and 4 have gone, no sign of any shell, and apart from feeding and drinking she sits tight, i,v got a live rat trap set but havent caught owt, whats taken them, i,v never had any eggs gone before, 6 fowels, 6 eggs every day untill one went broody, any ideas lads.

Sounds like it's the hen mate....had the same thing happen to me ...mind did it on one out of 8,,,I found one tiny piece of egg she'll she must off eaten the rest...apparently it's some thing to do with lack of protein..

 

 

If it was a rat I'm sure the rat would have a good go at the hen while she's sat tight in the dark

[Carraghs Gem 1,675]

either hens an egg eater, rats or you've a crafty mutt stealing eggs out from under her.

[buster gonads 862]

If it turns out to be the hen then i think she,ll end up as ferret food as once they start that game you cant stop them, or so iam told.

[patterdalejoel 669]

i had the same mate, put 6 under her and couldnt wait for them to hatch, i didnt bother chucking her off or checking as she has been a good hen before, then a day after they were due i looked under only 2 eggs left. could of wrung the fuckers neck there and then

[skycat 6,173]

Some hens are so obsessive about sitting that they won't get off to eat. I always used to take the hen off once a day to make sure she ate, crapped and drank, and made sure she was getting plenty of grit and a high protein diet. Oyster shell and grit very important: hens that have laid a lot of eggs can be deficient in calcium, and maybe that is one reason she ate the eggs.

[buster gonads 862]

I never give mine grit but i do turn a couple of yards of soil over for them most days and i,v never had any trouble with hens eating eggs before, i dont want to believe its the hen but iam at a loss to explain were the eggs have gone otherwise. They should be due for hatching any time soon so i need to put a net over the run as the Magpies took the last lot, b*****ds, we also have grey's and cats about so i,v another trap to set, thanks for your replys and tips folk.