Frustrating predators!

[TGreenhut]

Just a rant :/ So I had a silkie hen on about 15 eggs and they were due to hatch on Saturday. I candled them and they were all fertile and growing healthy. I was gone at an FFA livestock judging competition all day Saturday so when I finally got home Sunday and went to check on the eggs, they were gone! All gone! My hen was still there (a bit frazzled), but the eggs disappeared without a trace! I searched frantically for a little while and then finally found a small hole near the nesting box. It appears to be a snake hole... The snake must have eaten the eggs the day they were supposed to hatch!!! Agh

 

[PattySh]

Oh that's just rotten!!!! So sorry you lost your chicks.

 

[Chic-N-Farmer's]

How terrible! I had no idea a snake could eat that many eggs.

 

[Petty]

Thank God the snake did not eat the hen herself. Sorry for your loss.

 

[taylorm17]

sorry for so many gone! especially the day thy were due. I had a great mother hen on 13 eggs once. About 8 or 9 hatched and the same night they were born, they all got eaten by an opossum! The poor mom was devastated and terrified out of her mind! I wish they didn't take them all! I also hate the opossums and raccoons especially because they just kill they don't eat!