2 1/2 chicks hatched out of 12

[Willie84]

Hey guys,

This is my third time hatching eggs under my broody Wyandotte. The first two times I hardly had any issues. I thought everything was going well until today (day 22). I have had no more than two eggs hatch and now she appears to be off the nest.
This time "Peppa" my broody has pooped in the nest, two eggs were cracked with one of them having a distinct peck indent and one chick died upon hatching. I have not disturbed her in 21 days only opening up the coop in the morning so she can stretch her legs, which she would do so for 10 minutes, she would have a drink and a feed and a quick dust, then head back to her nest.
Previously I have candled her eggs and removed the bad ones I just don't know what I have done wrong this time.
Any help or advice would be great
Thanks

Willie

 

[bobbi-j]

It's hard to say what goes on in the mind of a chicken, and what could have happened. Maybe something disturbed her while she was setting (it wouldn't necessarily have to have gotten in, but even a predator sniffing around in the night could have scared her). Was her food and water in the coop with her? Did she have ample space in the coop to get off the nest to poop? So many variables could factor in.

 

[Willie84]

It's hard to say what goes on in the mind of a chicken, and what could have happened. Maybe something disturbed her while she was setting (it wouldn't necessarily have to have gotten in, but even a predator sniffing around in the night could have scared her). Was her food and water in the coop with her? Did she have ample space in the coop to get off the nest to poop? So many variables could factor in.

Yeah she has heaps of space and the food is right by the nest as well as a feed station outside the coop. I have washed the eggs and changed the nest bedding in the hope she will return, but it could be one of those times it's just not meant to be.

 

[Willie84]

I was given some helpful advice since my broody hen is getting on a bit, she may not be able to regulate the temperature of the eggs so much and we have just had temperatures in the high 30's and low 40's. Due to this extended time period of the temperature being so high the chicks may have died just before hatching.