Chicken boarders

[bessandra]

Hello

 

Brenda has been sat successfully on 4 eggs, until day (day 16). I came home and checked on her at 4pm to discover her sat in her usual spot but one egg randomly in the run - cold to the touch and with a crack running down one entire side- and bits of egg shell from a different egg in a different place in the run. There appeared to be a small amount of egg yolk(dont know how else to refer to it - chicken goop?) in the nest with the other two eggs.

So, thats one cold and cracked and one virtually disappeared. what has happened? would Brenda discard 'faulty' eggs at this stage of the cycle? would she have eaten the inners of the disappearing egg? should I have discarded the stray egg in the run, rather than put it back under her?

I'm so disappointed this has been our first go and its a little upsetting all round if I'm honest.

 

I'd be so grateful for any thoughts and advice,

 

Kindest Regards

 

Rachel

[Redwing]

Its normal that not all eggs will make it to hatch even if they are fetile

 

A broody will discard dud eggs and may eat the contents, is normal if a bit upsetting

 

I think the thing to remember that unless the broody is a rogue one she knows best and those eggs would not have hatched anyway

 

If the broody is breaking all of the eggs and eating them then I would be worried but a couple of duds are normal

[Jools]

Can anything else get into the run? Like a rat, magpie or crow.

 

If not, I'd keep a close eye on her. Hatching with broodies is the simplest way to rear chicks when it goes to plan, but occasionally it doesn't. I wouldn't put her under 24 hr observation(!!) but brief, regular checks to make sure she's still happy on the eggs / hatching chicks / hatched chicks would be prudent, particularly as it's her first time.

 

Fingers crossed there's no more drama

[bessandra]

Tasha and Jools

thank you so much for your detailed, helpful replies.

Brenda is definitely the guilty party here! Upon checking today, she has eaten the contents of the cracked egg, the give away being bloody eggy goop on her beak! And her underside and on the Walls of the house. I'm so disappointed but feel a bit better knowing this is 'normal' behaviour.

This leaves us with 2 eggs which I guess isn't a great punt at success.

Ahhh well, it's the first time for us so it's a learning curve. They are due to hatch Monday. I'll be in touch then, if not before.

And thank you, once again.

Rachel

[Jools]

Hope it all goes well for you.

 

I've never had a broody chuck dud eggs out of the nest, or eat them, but I'm sure it does happen.

 

What I have encountered is two different broodies throwing the first hatched chick out of the nest. I wasn't prepared for it the first time and found a dead chick. I tend to keep a closer eye on events these days and when it happened again last year, I was able to put the chick straight back under mum. Fortunately she accepted it and there was no harm done - they all grew into strong, healthy birds, so it wasn't because there was something wrong with the poor thing.

 

I think they just get a bit confused sometimes, what with those hormones and all that. So far this year, all has gone to plan and brood No 3 are hatching as I type. Here's hoping you get a successful hatch too!

[bessandra]

Ohhhh thank you Jools, thank you for your support. I've just been so shocked as Brenda is so cool and placid, it seemed out of character.

Well, 1 day left for us so keeping everything crossed.

I hope you are all doing well-everything crossed for your hatch too!