Broody hen abandoned the unhatched eggs.

[Floxi]

my first time broody hen hatched 8 of the 12 chicks today but has abandoned the last 4. I put down food and water for them and she moved off her nest to drink and eat. Was it too soon? Can I try another hen or is there a reason she’s not sitting the last shift? She has been off the nest with the last be chicks for about 3 hours now will it be too late to try recover the unhatched?

 

[Chickens :)]

The hen will usually sit for another day or two after the first lot hatch. Keep in mind she is also a first time broody so she doesn’t have experience yet. When some of my broodies hatched for the first time they killed some of the chicks. My recommendation is to leave the hen while the others are hatching, try not to disturb her, and see how it goes. She will have to sit with the newly hatched chicks while they dry as well. You could move them to another broody but be careful because they will probably be hatching soon. The chicks don’t actually need food or water for a couple of days after they hatch because while in the shell they eat the yolk.

Hope this helps

 

[Floxi]

The hen will usually sit for another day or two after the first lot hatch. Keep in mind she is also a first time broody so she doesn’t have experience yet. When some of my broodies hatched for the first time they killed some of the chicks. My recommendation is to leave the hen while the others are hatching, try not to disturb her, and see how it goes. She will have to sit with the newly hatched chicks while they dry as well. You could move them to another broody but be careful because they will probably be hatching soon. The chicks don’t actually need food or water for a couple of days after they hatch because while in the shell they eat the yolk.

Hope this helps

Thank you my better judgement is to leave her. She has the new babies under her in a different spot while the 4 unhitched are uncovered. Do the last 4 stand a chance of hatching without her body heat or will they perish?

 

[dunnmom]

It really depends on temperature, humidity, and whether or not the egg is still viable in the first place. What are your daytime and nighttime temperatures? Do you have access to an incubator?

 

[Chickens :)]

Hard to say. They may survive may not. You could try putting them under her where she is sitting now. She may pull them under or she might just leave them. Are there any signs of them hatching? Do you have an incubator on hand? She may even come back for them. I had broodies who sat on some infertile eggs even after 4 days of them not hatching. Did she take herself away from the nest and is she walking around or just sitting? If she is sitting try putting the eggs under her. Tell us how it goes if you decide to put them under her

 

[dunnmom]

She may have left them because they weren’t going to hatch. You could attempt to hatch them yourself if you really want to and are certain she’s abandoned them.

 

[Floxi]

I placed the other 4 eggs under her and been watching my chicken cam, she seems to have left them there. Live chicks are also tucked in for the night. Will check on them in the morning and see if there has been any more hatching. Thank you for responding to my post so quickly and giving much appreciated advice you guys rock! Will update tomorrow.

 

[LulaBell]

Good luck! I love the chicken cam by the way, great idea!

 

[Floxi]

this morning there is a new little bug wobbling around. She is different to all the other hatchlings from yesterday, looks like a chipmunk with a stripe down her back. Mom must have relocated back to her nest sometime in the night because all chicks and eggs are back in her nest. She got up to eat and I was able to see 3 eggs left. Will watch her from the chicken cam to see how things transpire. She’s been such a good mom!

 

[dunnmom]

Glad she’s taken them back. I went through a similar issue when my hen brooded 12 eggs. She abandoned the last 2 because she was busy with the 10 other new babies. I had to help those last two out of their shells, because they were getting shrink wrapped and weak, and put them in a brooder together. Mama hen, nor the other chicks would accept them. It ended up working out fine in the end, but it was stressful to watch.