BPR quit on day 17

[DragonDaddy]

My BPR became broody on Dec. 20. After almost two weeks of trace-like dedication to sitting, in the last few days she became much more interested in going out of the nest and staying out--scratching for worms. Eggs got cold a couple of times, but we got them warmed back up and by pushing her gently towards the nest box got her to sit again. Today I checked her every hour or so. Eggs seemed warm until this afternoon She had broken open one egg and the rest were ice cold. Looked like a murder scene. I rescued the remaining four, put them under a lamp, and drove to Tractor Supply to get an incubator. BPR was still having broody aggression towards the other girls but I think the rooster sorted it out, and she's back in the coop with the others tonight.

I really wanted to do this the natural way, but it seems like it just didn't work out. Perhaps she was starving and out of pure self-preservation gave up on sitting only 4 days from hatching. She is awfully light and her comb and wattles are several shades paler than her BPR sister.

Hoping that we'll get some chicks out of this clutch, even if I have to do it the artificial way.

 

[sourland]

Check and see if she or the nest site are mite infested. Sometimes the mite population will explode exponentially on a brooding hen and cause her to weaken and become anemic. If this happens they will break out of self preservation. I only mention this because of your mentioning her very pale comb and wattles.

 

[DragonDaddy]

I don't think so.
Checked her tonight. Very full plumage and I can't see any eggs or mites in btw. No raised leg scales. It seems more like she was trying to avoid starving to death.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

How is your girl today? How is the incubator doing with the eggs?

 

[DragonDaddy]

She made it through her first night back in the coop with the rest of the flock and seems to be getting back to a normal pre-broody routine. The eggs are quietly incubating away. Should have some hatching late this week.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

She made it through her first night back in the coop with the rest of the flock and seems to be getting back to a normal pre-broody routine. The eggs are quietly incubating away. Should have some hatching late this week.

AWESOME!

 

[fishermans wife]

I had a hen do the exact same thing on the last 2 days! She abandoned them and they were actually pipping! I gave in a few hours, went back, and the one that started to hatch was crawling with ants,and momma hen was nowhere around them. I fired up the incubator,cleaned up the ants best I could and put them in there! a day later I had 3 out of 3 healthy chicks! Momma then decided she wanted to be broody again, so I put the babies under her at night after they were totally dry and she ended up accepting them and raising them perfectly! Good Luck!

 

[DragonDaddy]

I guess that's my dilemma now--whether to even attempt having her raise them. She's back with the flock, and after the cannibalism of the one egg I'm scared to let her try. Inclined to go through the whole chick-raising process myself. It'll be a solid four to five days between her quitting and when they hatch, if they do.

 

[fishermans wife]

If she isn't showing signs of going back to brooding, I would say raise them yourself. She will most likely attack the chicks at this point. Oh well, hopefully you will have a wonderful hatch and can enjoy the little ones!

 

[DragonDaddy]

Update: Two hatched today, one still breaking thru shell!