Broody hen gave up with 4 days to go

[PBlanck]

I had a broody hen. I bought 6 fertilized eggs from a local farmer and placed them under her. Sadly chickens ate 5 of the eggs as they laid new eggs. I checked last night and she was still sitting on them. I check now, the egg is not warm and she is not sitting. Is it too late? Should I rush out and buy an incubator? Put her on the egg and block her in there with a board? Give up?

 

[nuthatched]

I'd try the incubator

 

[BoundlessLove]

Candle the eggs

 

[Debbie292d]

You only have one egg left now so I'd first find yourself perhaps a good used incubator on Marketplace near you, or a small, highly rated one on Amazon or farm store. How long was the broody sitting on them?

Do you have a rooster? If so, and it's only been a day or two for that other egg, I'd put a few with it so it won't be alone.

If it's been a couple of weeks, then I'd look for a chick when the time comes. If farm stores by you aren't selling them anymore, check your local poultry groups on Facebook. Someone near you probably has chicks for sale.

Next, you've got to break those hens from eating eggs. Some will say it's hopeless and have culled their birds that did that. Others have had great success trying a few different methods. One idea was to hang curtains over all of the nest boxes so it's dark inside. They can't eat what they can't see. Another idea was to blow a couple of them out and fill with mustard.

You'll get this figured out! I hope you'll have some chicks in about three weeks!

 

[PBlanck]

I had a broody hen. I bought 6 fertilized eggs from a local farmer and placed them under her. Sadly chickens ate 5 of the eggs as they laid new eggs. I checked last night and she was still sitting on them. I check now, the egg is not warm and she is not sitting. Is it too late? Should I rush out and buy an incubator? Put her on the egg and block her in there with a board? Give up?

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I did get a small incubator but by the time I put the egg in the incubator, it was cold to the touch. I don't have much hope, but being just a few days away from hatching I wanted to give it a chance. I haven't had much luck candling, but can give it a try.

The curtains are an interesting idea. I'll talk to my wife about any extra fabric we might have. My concern would be that they quit going in there to lay eggs. But worth a try. I have tried fake eggs before and that had some success. I've heard of the mustard trick, but haven't tried it yet.

 

[McChooky]

I use totes for nest boxes so they can be removed and reattached quickly.This comes in handy when you have a broody hen sitting on eggs.I wait for the broody to get off the nest to go eat before moving the nest(eggs and all)I do not disturb the nest in any way.Once she returns to the old nest site I carry her to the new nest site and set her on the original nest