Bantum Hen Not Hatching

[Linda Stumph]

Hello,

Well, a new mystery this morning with the same bantum hen that lost one of her chicks. We moved her and her eggs yesterday after having another hen in the coop do something to the new born chick. Now she has 4 eggs left. Last night and this morning she was not laying on her eggs. We candled them and all four have a baby chick in them. We put her back on her eggs several times and she won't stay. So we decided to bring the eggs in the house, we put them on a heating pad on low heat. The eggs were cold, not freezing cold but cold. I am turning them often. Now they are nice and warm again. Does anyone think there is a chance they will hatch? Do you have other suggestions?

Thank you,
Linda

 

[gander007]

It sounds like you do not have a incubator but you have the necessary
items around the house that heating pad should be put in a box and
some old t-shirts put over it then put in the eggs and a lid on top to
keep down the draft and a thermometer and try to keep it around 100
degrees as you do not have a fan to move the air or then it would be
99.5 degrees ...... Best of luck on your endeavor ..... Brooding hens
should not be moved as it is a 50/50 chance what they will do so I always
try to put a 5 sided cage I made from wire to put over them for no moment
of the hen but to each their own tricks .......
Happy holidays ....

gander007

 

[Linda Stumph]

Thank you for your reply. The first time our hen went broody we let her hatch and raise her babies because everything went fine and she gave us a hen and a rooster. This time we were expecting the same thing, but it didn't work out that way and so we tried to hatch the eggs ourselves. We do not have an incubator, but we put the heating pad up like you suggested. It has been between 95-100 degrees for the last couple days. Next time we will take your advice with the wire and see if that works. We appreciate your advice.
Linda

 

[gander007]

I hope all works out for you with the egg's just don't let any
cold drafts get to them...
Enjoy the weekend ......

gander007