Backyard Brahmas!!

[The Colonel]

Ok guys, need some quick advice. Woke up this morning to find the momma had abandoned the nest, still has 3 eggs that have not hatched from this weeks, and six more that are due to hatch within a week. My other hen had me thinking she was going broody, so my plan was to transplant, but she got off too soon. Brought them in and have them on the heating pad. Hopefully it's only temporary and the other mama will start sitting tomorrow :/

 

[Huntress78]

Another point of interest that I hadn't realized until I just ran the calculator is that if I take the split male to blue partridge, I'll get some (25%) silver/blue hens instead of blue/gold. I think that might be an interesting combination....might be the direction that I need to go in order to develop an interesting look............oh, no, I need to stop thinking about it and stick with the plan.

Not TMI for me...I'm in the same boat. Don't know what I have (cockerels vs pullets) in my 'colored' Brahmas so I don't really have a plan for next year yet. Summers are pretty busy here but next winter I'll be doing some work on the calculator and then look out!!

If I were you I'd add the silver/blue to the list. If you don't like them then don't continue but at least you won't be saying "I should have tried it"!

 

[The Colonel]

Any advice would be a God-send. Praying for a miracle.

 

[Huntress78]

Ok guys, need some quick advice. Woke up this morning to find the momma had abandoned the nest, still has 3 eggs that have not hatched from this weeks, and six more that are due to hatch within a week. My other hen had me thinking she was going broody, so my plan was to transplant, but she got off too soon. Brought them in and have them on the heating pad. Hopefully it's only temporary and the other mama will start sitting tomorrow

I hate to say it but I've never had good luck trying to save an abandoned nest. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that you get another broody soon!

 

[Huntress78]

Any advice would be a God-send. Praying for a miracle.

I guess just watch the temperature close! Do you have them covered with a towel or something?

 

[The Colonel]

Thank you huntress. Like I said, praying for a miracle. I think if I can keep them warm enough my friend has one that just went broody yesterday. Going to candle them in a minute and see if there's any hope.

 

[The Colonel]

Yes they are covered and it's set on low.

 

[bumpercarr]

Any advice would be a God-send. Praying for a miracle.

I'm going to assume here that you don't have an incubator. If you do, fire it up now and get those eggs in there! But, since you probably don't have one, you can pick up a heat lamp fairly cheaply (less than $20) and set it up to keep the eggs warm. For the next few days (until day 18) you will need to turn them 2 or 3 times a day. If you set up the heat lamp, I'd start out at about 2 feet high, check the temp with as accurate of a thermometer as you have. Should be 99.5 at the top of the eggs, but up to 101 is okay (but not ideal). Below 99 is not ideal either. If they are as close to hatching as you think they are, there is a possibility that you can save them. Only a possibility though. You can try to control some humidity by putting a sponge close to the eggs but not too close.

If a heat lamp is not a possibility either, then you can use another heat source. Even a heating pad can do it, provided that you can keep the eggs at a fairly steady temperature all of the way around them. It's really important that you don't cook the eggs and that they have some humidity. I'd do a search on this site and see if you can't find some more information.

 

[bumpercarr]

The Colonel: Try thislinks for information.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/728097/hatching-eggs-with-heating-pad

 

[The Colonel]

Ok I've got a lamp, do I just nest them or so they still need to be covered? If so should the sponge also be covered to keep the humidity in with them?