I put down a hen that I had breed with before successfully but she is nearly 4 so this was to be her last clutch. I used a cock that I recently bought, he is 2 years old. The first egg disappeared but I could see very small shell pieces at the front of the nest box, then the second was smashed. Not knowing which one was doing it I removed the cock and was going to remove the hen as well but got called away before I could take her out and she has laid a 3rd egg and is sitting on it.

 

Do I leave her to sit on it by herself or foster the egg to another hen?

 

Should I put her old mate in with her?

Removing the egg will still encourage her to lay another and replace it, and also she will lay more even without the cock. Assume for now that the eggs were broken by either parents and maybe all will be okay and maybe put the cock back in and watch closely. Some cocks get in the nestbox and two birds in there and they smash the eggs by accident.

If they were smashed by the parents - I read on here somewhere to trim the tail's ...

But by the sound of the 1st egg disappeared and little traces of the shell was found I will assume that it was actually eaten.

I hope that No3 is okay and a great breeding time lays ahead

Edited August 8, 200816 yr by KAZ

Well I put the cock back in and he went straight into the nest box and I caught him just as he was trying to smash the egg.....urgh. Took him straight out again.

Hen has since laid a 4th egg (4 is all she ever lays) and is sitting on the last 2 so I will wait and check them for fertility and then decide what to do.

Well I put the cock back in and he went straight into the nest box and I caught him just as he was trying to smash the egg.....urgh. Took him straight out again.

Hen has since laid a 4th egg (4 is all she ever lays) and is sitting on the last 2 so I will wait and check them for fertility and then decide what to do.

Good thing you figured out who was doing it

How naugthy!!! - I am sure that a hen can raise the 2 own her own if it comes to it

Men!!! (kidding guys ) I'm sure she'll manage a few if they hatch. You could always make sure she has a bit of food in the nest box for quick meals.