Broody died on night of day 16... emergency incubating

[hannahsflock]

I'm so sorry for your loss. What I usually do is take the broody off her nest once every 2 days or so, and put her by the food and water. Some hens get so into it, that they forget to look after themselves.

I'm happy you got some chicks! Congrats

 

[BatChickCrazy]

I'm so sorry for your loss. What I usually do is take the broody off her nest once every 2 days or so, and put her by the food and water. Some hens get so into it, that they forget to look after themselves.

I'm happy you got some chicks! Congrats

Thank you!! I was an overly attentive mama to my broody. I had a wifi camera set up and any time she got up I'd bee tail it outside to her to let her go out into the yard and if I felt she wasn't getting up enough I'd get her up and bring her out to the yard. The last few days I could tell she was starting to go downhill... she was so lethargic and wouldn't eat even if I hand fed her yummies she normally would gobble up. I should have trusted my instincts and brought her into the vet but so many people told me and I kept reading that they just go into the broody trance and don't need to eat as much so I figured she was in that state. Had I known she was likely sick... I would have done things so differently. I guess live & learn... these two little fighter are certainly loved on by their humans though.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Unless the egg is smelling or oozing...I don't think you have to worry. When in doubt I always keep mine in...and I haven't had one blow up yet. Here are eggs that clearly show the egg has died.

#1 shows a smaller air cell. The yellow area between the air sac and the darkness shows a band of atrophy where there's nothing to show the baby would be alive. The edges along the dark area appear undefined. You can't see it but this egg has swishability in the yellow area, but the dark area is solid and non swishable. You can tell it looks dead.
View attachment 1072093

#2 is the back of the previous egg. You can see a dark bump which is likely the chick.
View attachment 1072095

#3 Shows a larger air cell but less embryo. You'd definitely tell this one was dead in comparison to eggs that continued to fill with embryo. You're egg is past this stage.
The area along the dark section is very undefined and floaty looking.
View attachment 1072096

#4 This egg has a huge air cell, more than it should have. That instantly tells me the chick is dead and if I were to open it...the chick would be shrink wrapped. The yellow area has pull back (it's what I call it...lol) It's when the chick has died and the membrane looks pulled away or dried out. The dark area looks floaty and you can tell the embryo died.
View attachment 1072097
#5 is great for showing the atrophy of the blood vessels. The orangy/red areas within the yellow strip is pooling blood from the blood vessel atrophy. This egg has not been dead as long as the eggs above. The embryo is freshly deceased and is still breaking down. You can see the rough outline of the chick is still visible, and a bit floaty looking with the blood from the vessels...but still more defined. Technically the air cell is the correct size for hatching...but the embryo doesn't fill the area below. I'd say the chick was loosing ground and dying for a few days while the rest continued growing to fill the shell. It should have been hatching. Instead it slowly gave out and died. It didn't get to full term size.
View attachment 1072098

Great images and explanations

@BantyChooks will want this