Broody chicken with fertile eggs!

[LindaK11]

Hi, my name is Linda and I'm new to Backyard chickens.. I literally have a backyard chicken who apparently decided to adopt my home and front porch lol.I don't mind, I used to have chickens and miss them dearly..However I found myself in pickle dealing with some new things I've never been through. For one I find a hen nesting under my porch couple weeks ago and knew the eggs were fertile since I seen her and rooster hanging out around my house approx.3-4 weeks ago.I gave her food and when she got up looking through cracks in porch I counted 14eggs.Well about week and half ago i counted 15, I'm positive she only had 14 before I've counted them multiple times..My question is these 14 babies have all hatched 3-4 days ago and she's abandoned the last egg(15th) few hours later I took inside and made a make shift incubator with heating pad..I'm rotating the egg every couple hours but I've never let my hens in past hatch their eggs, I'm completely new to this.However I raised every hen and rooster I've had from time they were baby chicks where I bought them at local feed mill. How do I know this egg I'm trying to hatch is alive? I've tried homemade candling but the egg is dark Brown and i can't really see.I don't even know for sure the age of the egg and read they're fertile for up to 3 weeks after the deed.Is it possible this egg was a late comer and still has week or so to go? IM completely lost right now, the egg has been on heating pad like3days now and its not stinking or anything I just am unsure as to how long to keep it on there or if I'm wasting my time..Can anyone help me? Sorry for the book

 

[LindaK11]

Also since she's not my hen she's not used to me and I've been trying to get acquainted better so she'll trust me with her babies..I fear she might move them if she gets bothered to much or try take them back where she came from which wouldn't be good for them, they'll surely die.

 

[ronott1]

Hi, my name is Linda and I'm new to Backyard chickens.. I literally have a backyard chicken who apparently decided to adopt my home and front porch lol.I don't mind, I used to have chickens and miss them dearly..However I found myself in pickle dealing with some new things I've never been through. For one I find a hen nesting under my porch couple weeks ago and knew the eggs were fertile since I seen her and rooster hanging out around my house approx.3-4 weeks ago.I gave her food and when she got up looking through cracks in porch I counted 14eggs.Well about week and half ago i counted 15, I'm positive she only had 14 before I've counted them multiple times..My question is these 14 babies have all hatched 3-4 days ago and she's abandoned the last egg(15th) few hours later I took inside and made a make shift incubator with heating pad..I'm rotating the egg every couple hours but I've never let my hens in past hatch their eggs, I'm completely new to this.However I raised every hen and rooster I've had from time they were baby chicks where I bought them at local feed mill. How do I know this egg I'm trying to hatch is alive? I've tried homemade candling but the egg is dark Brown and i can't really see.I don't even know for sure the age of the egg and read they're fertile for up to 3 weeks after the deed.Is it possible this egg was a late comer and still has week or so to go? IM completely lost right now, the egg has been on heating pad like3days now and its not stinking or anything I just am unsure as to how long to keep it on there or if I'm wasting my time..Can anyone help me? Sorry for the bookView attachment 1161982 View attachment 1161987 View attachment 1161989 View attachment 1161992 View attachment 1161982

What a great story!

Candling is best done from the big end with a very bright light. One trick is to use a light app on a cell phone. You an also get very bright LED flash lights from Walmart.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/5000Lume...1019&wl11=online&wl12=175844755&wl13=&veh=sem

If the eggs is close to hatching, you will see a bright air cell but often not much else:

This is a good guide to help figure out the day

 

[Smuvers Farm]

In the immortal words of @rjohns39 , if it doesn't stink, keep at it. I'm sure some others will come along with better ideas for you to incubate the egg with. I'm at a loss for that.

Doubtful your chicken and her babies ( SO CUTE!!!!) will wander *back* to where she came from if you are providing food, water and treats.

Here's a good link to help you and that last egg: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-sunshine-hosts-bantychooks-and-more.1137467/

 

[LindaK11]

View attachment 1162000

What a great story!

Candling is best done from the big end with a very bright light. One trick is to use a light app on a cell phone. You an also get very bright LED flash lights from Walmart.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/5000Lume...1019&wl11=online&wl12=175844755&wl13=&veh=sem

If the eggs is close to hatching, you will see a bright air cell but often not much else:

This is a good guide to help figure out the day

Thank you.It's also getting cold out and I'm so not prepared for this..I have no coop nor the funds to purchase one right now, so I'm trying to build a cheap one just to get them through the winter with heat and protection from the coons and other animals.I couldn't figure out why she made her nest under my porch in that specific location since its close to fencing and a coon could reach in and grab one them and there's other spots under huge porch that wouldve been safer.I realized she's very smart because where the nest is located is against the brick of my house where my heater vent goes up to Livingroom.lol it guaranteed her heat!

 

[LindaK11]

In the immortal words of @rjohns39 , if it doesn't stink, keep at it. I'm sure some others will come along with better ideas for you to incubate the egg with. I'm at a loss for that.

Doubtful your chicken and her babies ( SO CUTE!!!!) will wander *back* to where she came from if you are providing food, water and treats.

Here's a good link to help you and that last egg: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-sunshine-hosts-bantychooks-and-more.1137467/

Thank you

 

[ronott1]

Thank you.It's also getting cold out and I'm so not prepared for this..I have no coop nor the funds to purchase one right now, so I'm trying to build a cheap one just to get them through the winter with heat and protection from the coons and other animals.I couldn't figure out why she made her nest under my porch in that specific location since its close to fencing and a coon could reach in and grab one them and there's other spots under huge porch that wouldve been safer.I realized she's very smart because where the nest is located is against the brick of my house where my heater vent goes up to Livingroom.lol it guaranteed her heat!

She will keep them warm for 6 weeks or so. Chickens don't really need anything that fancy--just enough to keep the raccoon out.

Check your local thread to see if someone local can help you get something going for cheap

 

[LindaK11]

She will keep them warm for 6 weeks or so. Chickens don't really need anything that fancy--just enough to keep the raccoon out.

Check your local thread to see if someone local can help you get something going for cheap

 

[RodNTN]

Hello there! And It is wonderful to have you here with us, best wishes!

 

[LindaK11]

I know but the Michigan winter's can be rough and so far its not been bad but last night it got down to 30-40 degree