A very tragic loss—my first large one

[Abriana]

We just got home, and the pictures that the chickens sitter sent were blurry, and I thought it was Henrietta, but it turns out it was Christina. I can believe both she and Napoleon are gone. They were my first chicks. I do not want to go back on vacation at all. I don’t feel like having fun and sailing (my sisters and I are doing a camp) or interacting with people and pretending to be happy.

 

[rosemarythyme]

So sorry for your loss. While an auto door isn't a "fix" (nothing is ever so perfect that it can't fail or malfunction) it would be a good tool for times when you're either gone for a few days or are going to be out late, though yes I'd still recommend having someone stop by to check on the chickens if possible.

 

[NatJ]

Or maybe we can hatch some of our eggs so that Napoleon’s line continues (Jaelyn is his daughter so a part of him is still with me).

Any eggs laid by the remaining hens will be fertile, for at a least a week and possibly up to two weeks. So collecting eggs and putting them in an incubator is one possibility.

For the future, redo your coop so that being in doesn't mean death, regardless of the weather!

I just saw a thread with a coop that will be great for hot weather:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/florida-open-air-coop.1399159/

It's got ventilation, shade, and predator proofing--exactly right for the summer heat.

Although you could get the same benefit by never closing the chicken door, and making the run (or a small sub-run) predator-proof.

 

[Abriana]

Any eggs laid by the remaining hens will be fertile, for at a least a week and possibly up to two weeks. So collecting eggs and putting them in an incubator is one possibility.



I just saw a thread with a coop that will be great for hot weather:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/florida-open-air-coop.1399159/

It's got ventilation, shade, and predator proofing--exactly right for the summer heat.

Although you could get the same benefit by never closing the chicken door, and making the run (or a small sub-run) predator-proof.

A week to two weeks? I thought it was 2-4. How long will the fertilized eggs keep?

I was thinking a sub-run would be a good idea. Right now there is water in the coop and there will continue to be (except during winter) until everything is worked out.

 

[NatJ]

If you want the best hatchability: collect eggs within a week of when the hen last mated with the rooster, and put the eggs in the incubator within a week of collecting them.

You will sometimes get a few chicks from eggs laid up to three weeks after the hen last mated with the rooster. You will sometimes get a few chicks from eggs that were stored 3-4 weeks before being put in the incubator. But you don't get very many chicks in either of those cases.

If you want to hatch eggs in this case, I would suggest that you collect the eggs each day and store them properly (not the refrigerator, but not above 70 degrees). Get an incubator, turn it on, let it run for 2-3 days to make sure the temperature and humidity are right. And about 7-10 days after the rooster died, put all the eggs into the incubator.

 

[RainbowHen]

I've taken eggs from my birds out of my refrigerator and hatched them. Worth a shot if you have any left.

 

[Abriana]

Okay thank you both for the advice!

 

[Dan nich]

Rest in peace clucks