Broody hen leaves eggs for hours every day

[Lelilamom]

Our 5+ yr old Buff Orpington was sitting on 10 eggs starting on July 6, some of which had been sitting under another hen starting July 2 and candled on July 6 were all found to be in various stages of development (as best I could tell). On July 20th one hatched and I found that she had crushed all but two others. On July 21 she left the nest for almost 3 hours during the day to exercise her chick. It was almost 90 degrees outside. I left her to decide what's best. On July 23 she was off the two remaining eggs for almost the entire day. It was nearly 80 that day. Today, Jul 24, it's just shy of 65 degrees and she's off the eggs for an hour at a time. I candled both eggs while she was exercising and couldn't see through one and the other looked fully developed and had what appeared to be a pip crack in it but I hear not a sound in it.

None of these eggs are hers. They are all Easter Egger eggs and are so thick and dark it's very hard to see into them despite my best candling efforts. She's been broody many times before, hatched babies before and even tried hatching rocks before. Question: Does mother know best or has she left them for dead?

 

[rIrs roost]

After a day or 2 after the first one hatches the hen will usually take the chicks or chick out in the yard. I'm afraid she may be done. Do you have an incubator?

 

[Lelilamom]

Yes, I do have an incubator. She's outside showing a chick how to scratch for worms! I actually do have a chick incubator floating around somewhere. Is it too late to put those two eggs into it or should I give it a try?

 

[Ridgerunner]

After an egg internal pips but before the chick hatches it starts talking to Mama. That way she knows one is on the way. After a chick hatches it can go three days or more without food or drink. The hen doesn't have to take it off the nest for those three days. But if she doesn't hear another chick on the way she may take that chick off the nest for food and water within 24 hours of the chick hatching. Once she takes the chick off the nest she is through hatching.

That's a big reason staggered hatches often don't work with broody hens. All the eggs need to be started at the same time. Otherwise late hatchers can be abandoned before they hatch.

You can try putting the eggs in he incubator. it may work, it may not.

 

[rIrs roost]

Yes, I do have an incubator. She's outside showing a chick how to scratch for worms! I actually do have a chick incubator floating around somewhere. Is it too late to put those two eggs into it or should I give it a try?

Ridgerunner has a lot more experience than I. So I'd go with whatever info ridgerunner gives. I think I'd try the incubator. Only because I've read stories about egg being left in the cool weather for hours and still hatch. Good luck.

 

[Lelilamom]

That's a big reason staggered hatches often don't work with broody hens. All the eggs need to be started at the same time. Otherwise late hatchers can be abandoned before they hatch..

Agreed. These eggs were rescued. We recently bought a farm complete with chickens, who are so scared of humans we never see them except for an occasional momma laying eggs in an abandoned coop. Good thing Hubby grabbed every egg he found, including those under a hen sitting on them, because three days later a raccoon wiped out nearly the entire flock and ate all the eggs. I felt sick over the loss - but I've been unable to approach any of the hens, bantams or the roosters - almost all of which are now dead, because they fly into trees, run into neighboring fields or hide in bushes. The former owners never interacted with them and felt that animals should be left to nature. This is the sad result of that philosophy.

 

[Miss717]

Are there any chickens left at all? If so where do they roost at night?

 

[Miss717]

After a chick hatches it can go three days or more without food or drink.

I don't mean to judge, but isn't it just 2-3 days. Just wondering.

 

[Lelilamom]

My broody Hen hatched two more chicks today. One is running around after momma but the other is laying exhausted in the next barely breathing, alone, still partially attached to the egg. Do I intervene? Do I let momma do her job? Do I let nature take its course?

Are there any chickens left at all? If so where do they roost at night?

There are three left out of sixteen living in the trees.

 

[rIrs roost]

Honestly I think you got lucky nd the ones that hatched first just wanted to stay on the nest and then those 2 hatch. It may die but I would try to put it under a heat lamp at 100 degrees.