My broodies

THis old fireplace sreen that I got at a garage sale three years ago has come in so handy for keeping my broodies safe,one is due the 10th and the ohter is due the 16th.Now I have a question,both hens have orpington eggs along with the silkie eggs(both are silkie hens)under them ,one had just one orp egg and 6 silkie eggs and the other had four orp eggs and some silkie eggs,two days ago one broke an orp egg and today the other broke and orp egg in the nest,I thought they would lay on any eggs but they seem not to like the orp eggs under them,the one that broke today she ate everything that was in it.I had candled all the eggs a few days ago and all were growing.Why do you think this happened?The orp eggs were on the smaller side.

Strange, we have had silkies hatch ducks for us and never had them break them and eat them. Are they breaking them on purpose or are they perhaps just maybe weak shell and as they move and roll the eggs they break and thus the hen eats it? I don't think they really know the difference in what type or breed egg it is.

You know Smedge that may be the problem,I have had a few soft shell orpington eggs.Thanks for bringing that to my mind,I bet anything that is what happened.Dh had to make another nesting box today cause I have another broody

This message was edited Jul 3, 2011 8:22 PM

Green I so had to laugh at this pic of your broodies. You know I have all these dutch silkies, plus american red silkies...Well I seperated out one dutch roo and five dutch hens that I will keep as my bators. Just this last week four of the five have gone broody and I could not figure out how they could have laid a clutch so fast, so I went out this evening and removed each one that was sitting, well would you believe that each one is sitting on one egg each...I must say I could only laugh and think of your broodies...Hay