Chicken bald back

[mollyripkim]

Wonder if anyone has any ideas. Daisy call duck has been sat on eggs for just over three weeks but past few days has been off the nest a lot. This morning all four eggs ok and warm but this evening one was out of the nest and broken open and bloody, the membrane is intact so its not the duckling so either Daisy or the male duck in with her must have done it. They are in a sectioned off area of the WIR which is totally secure so nothing else could have done it.

I feel so sad as the chick looked fully formed but obviously dead, why would this have happened. I have put the remaining three eggs in the incubator but they were stone cold so not sure they will survive?

[Beantree]

They may feel cold outside but be still alive Mollyripkin. Are you sure it is totally secure as perhaps a rat took the egg out? Can only be an accident otherwise. Got broken and taken out to avoid flies.

[mollyripkim]

Hi Beantree, yes totally secure, wire is heavy gage half inch on concrete base and it happened whilst I was out this afternoon so door to run was shut otherwise I might have blamed the dogs!

Hadn't thought of it being an accident, just assumed one did it on purpose, wonder if I should have left the male in with her but he was getting lonely and trying to mate the chickens. Good point about flies, there are a lot about although I have a couple of red tops about.

I hope the other three are still alive, they are in the incubator so only time will tell so fingers crossed. I really thought Daisy would be bothered that I have taken the other eggs away but she is just acting normal.

At least I know Daffy is fertile as this is the first duck hatch, upset the little duck died though.

[miller30]

Hi I would candle them to make sure they are not dis this maybe why she has given up interest leanne

[Egluntyne]

Maybe, as with chickens, they can sense when the egg is no longer viable, and boot it out of the nest. I've had a couple of instances of this, and on one occasion, the hen ate the contents of the egg.

[mollyripkim]

That's a good point, maybe the duckling had already died and that's why she threw it out. I just assumed one of them had done it. It makes more sense as I couldn't understand why they would do that to one of their own eggs.