Broody left nest and let eggs get cold day 19, HELP!

[sourland]

Agreed on incubating past the normal period. Chilling can extend the incubation process.

 

[kelldos]

From my very newbie experience I'd keep them in the incubator, a bit higher end of humidity until you know for sure they aren't going to hatch. We took 12 of ours away from mama when she got up and distracted by the 2 that hatched (and 2 that didn't survive). We've only got 4 eggs left and it became a severely staggered hatch. Currently have 1 that's pipped out of the 4 left to hatch. Fingers crossed for your eggies.

 

[cmom]

Don't give up. You may not see any movement but they may still hatch. I know from past experiences. You can use an incandescent light bulb as a heat source. in a box or whatever and lay the eggs in it being sure to monitor the temp and humidity. You can put a wet sponge in a dish for the humidity. If you need more humidity, you can mist the eggs with warm water. I have pictures but they are on my computer that recently died. Hopefully I'll have it fixed in the next couple of days. I'm using an ancient netbook.

 

[LTreadwell]

Hang on to ALL those eggs until at least Day 25. You've seriously changed the "normal" incubation process but that by no means they're lost.

If you can, get them into an incubator. If you don't have a real one there are usually some on sale on craigslist. Worst case get the temperature as close as you can to optimal.

Here's an article I just wrote about my experience just like yours! Keep the hope and do what you can! I got lucky with a second broody.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...g-when-things-dont-go-quite-as-planned.75308/

LOVED the article - given me some hope. "just peachy, what could possibly go wrong at this point?" Yup, that was me last week, lol.

I have them at a good temp in a rigged up brooder, but have the humidity a little low as it's hard to keep steady, and when I candled the eggs looked like the air sacs were on the small side. I won't give up on them and keep listening for any kind of chirping.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

LOVED the article - given me some hope. "just peachy, what could possibly go wrong at this point?" Yup, that was me last week, lol.

I have them at a good temp in a rigged up brooder, but have the humidity a little low as it's hard to keep steady, and when I candled the eggs looked like the air sacs were on the small side. I won't give up on them and keep listening for any kind of chirping.

Well, don't beat yourself up if they don't make it- but of course try. I got super lucky Butterscotch stepped in to save the day. If you have trouble with humidity, put open-top containers that hold water in the space like simple bowls or tupperware. The more surface area you have exposed to the heat the more your humidity will increase as it evaporates (even on a micro level). At Day 25 you may want to start thinking about helping. Again, if they don't make it and you give it your best- it wasn't meant to happen.

 

[NimTheOrpington]

Hmmm strange

I don’t have a definitive answer, but read Baakawkkk’s post.

 

[cmom]

I always mark the eggs I think are quitters with an X. This chick was not supposed to hatch. I have had others. I believe it hatched on day 25.

 

[LTreadwell]

Well last night I couldn't stand it so I did a water bowl test after candling 4 of the eggs and not seeing any movement. All 9 eggs floated like they were good. 3 had movement, 3 had no movement, and the last 3 I wasn't sure one way or the other.

So back in the incubator, and I was pretty hopeful last night. (End of day 23)

This morning I got up and the temp was reading 104. WTF? I hadn't changed the set up in any way so not sure why we got this temp spike! It's been consistent 99-100. Really upset to find that this morning, but I have to sleep sometime. I moved my lamp a little more off center and have my husband checking the temp for me while I am at work. I am really hoping after all this they didn't get fried last night. No way to know how long the temp was like that. :-(

 

[slbenter]

Best of luck.

 

[cmom]

Don't give up...