Broody hen sat in wrong nest on day 18 or 19.

[lizhejerry84]

I have a broody hen was hatching smoothly for almost 18-19 days.
Yesterday I put a “fence” over the nest box just in case future young chicks falling to ground (18inch up). Today I got home and found the broody hen was sitting in the other box!
I believe the egg was there without mom for about 5-6 hours.
Cause I have trouble to move mom back to original box, so I moved all the eggs to new box.
I searched around regarding chilled egg on day 18 or 19. I found Mixed answer and I don’t know my disturbing of moving egg will cause any issues,
Thanks and any comments will be appreciated!

 

[FeatherTay]

Sometimes it turns out ok, sometimes not. May I ask the temperature of where you are? I had some eggs get down to 60 degrees in an incubator once for about 4 hourscand had some still hatch.

 

[lizhejerry84]

Sometimes it turns out ok, sometimes not. May I ask the temperature of where you are? I had some eggs get down to 60 degrees in an incubator once for about 4 hourscand had some still hatch.

Thank you for the reply. It is kind lucky the temp around is about 75-80F outside.
I just counted the days, it is on 18-20. My another concern is moving during “lock down” period.

 

[FeatherTay]

Thank you for the reply. It is kind lucky the temp around is about 75-80F outside.
I just counted the days, it is on 18-20. My another concern is moving during “lock down” period.

It’s kind of a wait-and-see thing at this point. Can you by chance candle them? Lockdown isn’t a thing for hens. They will do the same things on the lockdown period as they would on day 9.

 

[lizhejerry84]

It’s kind of a wait-and-see thing at this point. Can you by chance candle them? Lockdown isn’t a thing for hens. They will do the same things on the lockdown period as they would on day 9.

Thank you.
I know there is nothing to do, however, just feel so bad cause it is so close to the hatch day. We will see in a week.

 

[lizhejerry84]

It’s kind of a wait-and-see thing at this point. Can you by chance candle them? Lockdown isn’t a thing for hens. They will do the same things on the lockdown period as they would on day 9.

An update here, it is on day 22, we gradually have chicks coming out, yesterday we have 3 chicks, we will see the last 4 in about 2 days. Mama really knows what to do.

 

[FeatherTay]

An update here, it is on day 22, we gradually have chicks coming out, yesterday we have 3 chicks, we will see the last 4 in about 2 days. Mama really knows what to do.

 

[lizhejerry84]

Ended up with 5 chicks. the last two eggs didn't hatch and we opened, they might die in a early age, no formation.