Originally Posted by
Birdhunter2
Those eggs were eaten by a raccoon as evidenced by the relatively clean bite out of the side of the egg. Poults hatch from the large end of the egg, not from the side of the egg and shell would be in the nest, not feet away. Raccoons are somewhat fastidious eaters, most other mammalian nest predators destroy the eggs rather than a clean bite from the side.
This...
I will also add that this nest was probably not incubated yet because of the low amount of eggs. The hen was probably in the process of laying (and roosting in trees at night) when a predator found diner. Also the spread out destruction points to predation.
Once a hen starts sitting, she is pretty determined to stay. Only a bobcat or yote would be able to take her at night - she would beat a coon to pieces.
Last edited by Sasha and Abby; 05-09-2024 at 05:56 AM.
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