Broody just up and quit

[mypetsrchickens]

Well my broody gave up and left 5 eggs with only 4 days left to hatch. They’re cool to the touch. I don’t own an incubator and at this point in the day am not able to get any type of heat light or anything. I have them under my brinsea eco glow because that’s the only thing I have that puts off heat. Should I just assume the chicks won’t make it at this point? I’m so frustrated and disappointed.

 

[MGG]

Well my broody gave up and left 5 eggs with only 4 days left to hatch. They’re cool to the touch. I don’t own an incubator and at this point in the day am not able to get any type of heat light or anything. I have them under my brinsea eco glow because that’s the only thing I have that puts off heat. Should I just assume the chicks won’t make it at this point? I’m so frustrated and disappointed.

Aw I'm sorry!!! What is the temp under there currently? Can you get a thermometer and calibrate it?
Also, if you have a heating pad you can try using that. Do you have a foam cooler and any kind of light bulb that emits heat?

 

[sourland]

I wouldn't give up on them. Perhaps the Eco Glo will provide enough heat. Did you check the nest site to make sure it was not infested with mites ? They are one of the frequent causes of hens quitting brooding.

 

[mypetsrchickens]

Aw I'm sorry!!! What is the temp under there currently? Can you get a thermometer and calibrate it?
Also, if you have a heating pad you can try using that. Do you have a foam cooler and any kind of light bulb that emits heat?

I don’t have any of that stuff. I lowered the eco glo as low as it would go without touching the eggs.

I wouldn't give up on them. Perhaps the Eco Glo will provide enough heat. Did you check the nest site to make sure it was not infested with mites ? They are one of the frequent causes of hens quitting brooding

No mites. I had another broody hatch chicks last week. This one decided she needed to go help raise those chicks. We secluded her with her eggs and she sat on them another 3 days. Today she decided she was done, apparently.

I’m hoping for the best. If they don’t make it at least I know I tried as best as I could with what I have.

 

[MGG]

You don't have any thermometers? Not even an oral one?
Fingers crossed for the best for you!

 

[mypetsrchickens]

You don't have any thermometers? Not even an oral one?
Fingers crossed for the best for you!

I have one of the thermometers you put in your ear. It wouldn't give me a consistent reading.

However, I think they were destined for failure. We lost power last night about 11:30 and it didn't come back on until 5:30 this morning. The temperature overnight in our house dipped down to about 50. There was absolutely nothing I could do to keep them warm.

I don't know if I should just get rid of them or if I should hold out to see what happens. After all they've been through I just can't imagine any of them would still hatch.

 

[Dinoroar]

Yikes power outage & quitting broody! I’d still leave them under the eco glo. I’ve had chicks hatch that a broody gave up on that I just put in a cooler with a jar of hot water that I replenished periodically. I know it wasn’t super consistent but they made it fine. They were only 2 days from hatch when she quit but just saying there’s a chance yours will pull through. I’d personally let them set for a day or two past their predicted hatch as they can get slowed down by the temperature drops.

 

[LaFleche]

I have one of the thermometers you put in your ear. It wouldn't give me a consistent reading.

However, I think they were destined for failure. We lost power last night about 11:30 and it didn't come back on until 5:30 this morning. The temperature overnight in our house dipped down to about 50. There was absolutely nothing I could do to keep them warm.

I don't know if I should just get rid of them or if I should hold out to see what happens. After all they've been through I just can't imagine any of them would still hatch.

Did you candle the eggs to check on the development of the chicks?

 

[LaFleche]

On another forum some years ago I read about someone who saved the already disposed unhatched Silkie eggs from the neighbours compost pile. Most of them still hatched after a few days of keeping them at low temperature in the oven, door slightly ajar and a waterfilled bowl and some wet terry-cloth towels for humidity.

They are very resilient.

 

[mypetsrchickens]

Did you candle the eggs to check on the development of the chicks?

I did. They look consistent with how far along they should be. I didn't see any movement but I read on several posts here that it's hard to see movement. She did just stop sitting on them yesterday though. So they were probably ok until last night. I still have them under the eco glo. I just can't bring myself to get rid of them in case they are still alive.
I checked them just now and they feel about as warm as they did when she was sitting on them. So maybe there's still a chance.
I just don't want to go too long because I know what a rotten egg smells like. We had another broody sitting on eggs years ago that had some go bad. Blech!