The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: sheila on June 18, 2009, 08:56:15 am

Title: missing egg
Post by: sheila on June 18, 2009, 08:56:15 am

 I have recently put 12  eggs under two of my broody bantams. I have been leaving them alone as they show their displeasure everytime anyone goes near. However on closer inspection yesterday there are now only 11 eggs and egg yolk all over the remaining ones. there is no sign of any shell. Should I be worried?

Title: Re: missing egg
Post by: carl on June 18, 2009, 09:40:01 am

hungry broody?
maybe a duff egg that cracked and the broody tucked in.

Title: Re: missing egg
Post by: Wellieboots on June 18, 2009, 11:32:56 am

they will happily tuck into a broken egg & the shell is the equivalent to them of having oyster shell etc. They can be a cannabilistic bunch as well, I had a deid chook the other day & before I could say "don't even go there" my newbies (12 weeks old!) had started tucking in on the corpse of my 18 month old - who seemingly just decided that it was all to much for her and went to sleep in the nest box. No outward signs of any problems, mildly broody but that was all.

Chooks eh? Wot a funny bunch a chickens ;) ;D

Title: Re: missing egg
Post by: northfifeduckling on June 19, 2009, 01:42:40 pm

This happened with our broody duck as well last year. I even harboured the suspicion that she knew which ones weren't hers and either chucked those out or cracked and eat them, lol. :&>

Title: Re: missing egg
Post by: shetlandpaul on June 19, 2009, 05:29:42 pm

they are very happy to snack on anything if they think theres food in it.

Title: Re: missing egg
Post by: sheila on June 28, 2009, 06:28:40 pm

 another egg has gone missing. There won't be any left to hatch at this rate!

Title: Re: missing egg
Post by: doganjo on June 28, 2009, 06:42:44 pm

So you still have 10? and about 8 days to go?  You might have about 7 or 8 left when they hatch ;)