Broody Chicken Hatching Eggs

[iBerth]

Hi Everyone!

My BLRW has been broody and laying of eggs.

2 days ago 3 out of her 9 eggs hatched. She is still laying on the remaining eggs. How long should I leave the eggs with her?

Is there a way to tell if there’s a chick inside?

Thanks!

 

[wleigh1021]

Can you candle them to see if there's a valid chick inside? If not, you could submerge in a measuring cup with water and watch to see if there is any movement within the egg.

 

[iBerth]

Can you candle them to see if there's a valid chick inside? If not, you could submerge in a measuring cup with water and watch to see if there is any movement within the egg.

Thank you! I will try this, I don’t have an actual egg candler but I can try with my flashlight!

It’s my first time hatching!

 

[wleigh1021]

good luck. This is my favorite site to use. The pictures and drawn pictures are really helpful.
https://www.raising-happy-chickens.com/hatch-patterns.html

 

[chickens really]

Were any other Hens able to lay eggs in her nest? Possibly a Staggered hatch...

 

[iBerth]

There were no other hens. We marked the eggs she laid on so we were sure!

I just did the water test! 3 of them sank to the bottom and one floated, what does this mean? Can’t say I noticed any movement!

Thanks!

 

[chickens really]

There were no other hens. We marked the eggs she laid on so we were sure!

I just did the water test! 3 of them sank to the bottom and one floated, what does this mean? Can’t say I noticed any movement!

Thanks!

Candle them. I definitely have never done the water test ever..

 

[chickens really]

Shine a flashlight through the fat end of the egg.

 

[iBerth]

Candle them. I definitely have never done the water test ever..

Thank you! I will try doing that tonight I will let you know the outcome

 

[wleigh1021]

https://avianaquamiser.com/posts/float_test_of_egg_viability/

I've done the float test on an egg that I candled and was positive that there was a fully developed chick in there. I dissected it after no movement of the egg in the water and over 24 hrs after all chicks had hatched. It was dead in there, never pipped, and unfortunately I have no idea why. It was a shipped egg so there could have been issues with the air cell.