Broody embryo deaths (pics)

[MichelleinAus]

Hi! We have 2 hens who have gone broody and been sitting on fertilized (by roosters) eggs. The hens are not a year old yet and it is their first time being broody. The first hen started sitting on the 1st 2 eggs in the nest on christmas eve, from there the clutch kept getting bigger (we have 3 hens that are laying and use that nest box) so by now, 21 days have passed. No live chicks yet, lots of cracked eggs and 3 that we could see were formed but not alive (pics)

There were at least 17 eggs at one stage. Couple days before it was 21 days I seperated the hens and split the nest giving them 7 eggs each. Now there are only 3 eggs in one nest and 4 eggs in the other. It doesnt seem like we will get any live chicks out of this which is very sad as it was our first time letting them sit on them since the kids have been excited.

Is there anything I can do at this point? Do the pics give any indication of what could be going wrong? It has been REALLY hot here in Australia...
1st one we found

2nd

3rd (today)

 

[mixedUPturk]

Awe! Hi! Im sorry they lost them. Sometimes young hens dont know exactly what to do the first time. Theres no telling exactly what happened but Incubation of the eggs should have all started at the same time and being staggerd like that is a strike against them. You might try to make or buy an incubator to handle situations like this. I understand wanting the mommas to raise them but they need to learn it.

 

[mixedUPturk]

It looks like they were old enough to hatch, and you will continue to have hatchers. Maybe momma is pecking at them when they pip or hatch not realizing this is what theyve been waiting for and thinking its a threat while this is her first time. You might try to "incubate" the remaining eggs in a small heat resistant container w a bright (warm) light. And theyll need that container to contain humidity.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Sorry to hear but thinking the pullets (not yet a year) are inexperienced (cracked eggs) and staggered hatches are hard to monitor. You could do as mixedUPturk suggested, setting up the remainder eggs in an incubator but candle prior to ensure they're viable and stage of development. Or you could leave them & prepare for the "next time".

Since the 3 layers are using the same nest box, the broody is collecting all the eggs as they are laid. Mark (pencil) the dates on the eggs, that way if you have more than one broody, split the eggs according to expected hatch date.

 

[aart]

Couple days before it was 21 days I seperated the hens and split the nest giving them 7 eggs each.

This could have upset the apple cart...best to move birds to where you want them to hatch and let them get settled before giving them fertile eggs.

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x aart