Snake or other chicken getting my eggs and a newly hatched chick?

[sunnie7]

I have 3 broody hens in nesting boxes that I had marked eggs under. One egg had just hatched under one and she had 2 other under her. Next day no sign of chick anywhere and another egg is gone too. IM having other eggs disappearing too in the past week. No sign of a predator no hurt chickens no parts of eggs or mess. Chickens are also still all going into coop at night and don’t seem scared. Could it be one of my hens or roosters doing this but they likely would leave a mess and she’ll if they were eating the eggs right and would they actually eat a chick?? Or more likely a snake? Thoughts?

 

[sweaterthebroodyrooster]

It sounds like a snake, there’d be a mess leftover from pretty much anything else.

 

[Nanook33]

Sounds like a snake? Mink? Racoon? We lost a squab. Hubby thinks it was a mink as the fly is completely enclosed but there was just a very small space under the gate that a mink could have fit through. That space has been wired-no problem since--(so far.) The chickens have been OK so far. Summer is just starting so we'll see. Maybe you can place a "game"/"trail" camera in the chicken coop area to see what/who is misbehaving?

 

[SamLockwood]

I have 3 broody hens in nesting boxes that I had marked eggs under. One egg had just hatched under one and she had 2 other under her. Next day no sign of chick anywhere and another egg is gone too. IM having other eggs disappearing too in the past week. No sign of a predator no hurt chickens no parts of eggs or mess. Chickens are also still all going into coop at night and don’t seem scared. Could it be one of my hens or roosters doing this but they likely would leave a mess and she’ll if they were eating the eggs right and would they actually eat a chick?? Or more likely a snake? Thoughts?

I've had chickens kill chicks but not eat them. If they eat eggs or usually leaves a mess. Ditto of rats or mice get into the eggs.

Most likely it's a snake as they swallow their food whole. Sometimes if they're big enough they'll try to eat a whole chicken and you'll find them dead with their head and neck slimy.

A mink isn't likely to just be satisfied with eggs or a chick. They'll wipe out a whole flock for the fun of it.

 

[Nanook33]

Do you have squirrels around that might be naughty?