Hen setting on eggs, hatched 5 of the 13 yesterday morning and left the nest. Kids moved hen and chicks into a safer spot (we free range) and moved the rest of the eggs too just in case she was scared off the nest.
She didn't return to setting on them, of course. So last night we were going to see how far along in development the rest of the eggs were (we homeschool) and as we were about to open the eggs, we heard peeping!
We put the eggs back under her (it was late evening by this time and she had settled in for the night). We heard peeping for 3 of the 5 eggs for sure, and 3 eggs were sloshing so we chucked those.
I figured she wouldn't continue to set on them this morning, so the kids went out and 2 more had hatched, leaving 3 eggs, 1 pipped!
We do not have an incubator, so they brought the last 3 eggs in (she had moved off of them) and all I have is a heating pad, which I have on high, and the eggs on a towel loosely wrapped in the heating pad.
Two show no signs of life (no cheeping, no pipping), but one is pipping and cheaping.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated to save this little miracle.
Hen and the chicks that hatched.
Debi
She didn't return to setting on them, of course. So last night we were going to see how far along in development the rest of the eggs were (we homeschool) and as we were about to open the eggs, we heard peeping!
We put the eggs back under her (it was late evening by this time and she had settled in for the night). We heard peeping for 3 of the 5 eggs for sure, and 3 eggs were sloshing so we chucked those.
I figured she wouldn't continue to set on them this morning, so the kids went out and 2 more had hatched, leaving 3 eggs, 1 pipped!
We do not have an incubator, so they brought the last 3 eggs in (she had moved off of them) and all I have is a heating pad, which I have on high, and the eggs on a towel loosely wrapped in the heating pad.
Two show no signs of life (no cheeping, no pipping), but one is pipping and cheaping.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated to save this little miracle.
Hen and the chicks that hatched.
Debi
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