Hen leaves remaining eggs after 1st two hatch - dispose or wait?

Date sort Score sort
kiwihunter8

kiwihunter8

In the Brooder
5 Years
Mar 11, 2014
14
0
22
I made a mistake with my broody hen - I received 2 fertilized eggs from a friend, and put them under her. Then two days later I received 4 more and put those under her. At the time, I didn't understand that the hen waits for the whole clutch and then starts sitting on them (correct?)

So the first two hatched yesterday, a day early, and she was out and and about with the chicks in the coop when I got home from work today. I moved them all to a temporary brooder pen about an hour ago, along with the unhatched eggs. She's setting on them again, but when I moved them they were cold.

Should I assume these are now dead and get rid of them (I don't want them to cause an unhealthy situation in the brooder pen)...or should I wait a couple more days? I'm thinking they were cold enough that she hadn't been on there for awhile.

Thanks for any advice!
 
Not small hens, but the egg size was medium, as a comparison to grocery store eggs. The hens the eggs came from are in their first year of laying. She was either a RIR or a Plymouth Rock - the eggs may be from either of two hens.
 
Last edited:
Thanks. Candled and no movement. Did the float test and had a sinker and 3 viable eggs according to the test. One even moved on it's own in the water so I think that at least one is partially alive at this point.
 
Ok so the reason o asked fpr the egh size was because in my experience that smaller eggs hatch a day or two earlier than the medium and larger ones but you could just chance it
 
At this point if i found 1 that was possibly alive i would give it another day as long as she's staying on them and see what happens.
 
We have a new baby chick today, and the last two are hatching as I post this! So if they all get out of the egg it'll be a hatch rate of 80%...good job for the first time Mama hen!
 

Similar threads

PhoenixManz
    • Like
Give newly broody hen ready to hatch eggs from incubator, or freshly hatched chicks?
2
Replies
16
Views
1K
Emmaloveschickens9156
Emmaloveschickens9156
The Prancing Raptor
Are the Broody Hen's Eggs going to hatch?
2
Replies
15
Views
1K
Tennessee Great Granny
Tennessee Great Granny
mygirlsandi
Hatching question!
Replies
4
Views
494
Egg Snatcher
Egg Snatcher
Denalynne
    • Like
Hatching Serama eggs
Replies
2
Views
810
Benny R
Benny R
S
Chicks Not hatched?
2
Replies
10
Views
546
Blue is my chicken
Blue is my chicken

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom