Broody not in lockdown, day 20

[JCaseyHammond]

When she’s been on them they are definitely warm to the touch. However, I have found one a couple times that was halfway under/halfway in her back butt feathers and not all the way up underneath her. Accident? Like she didn’t realize it was sort of exposed? Or did she kick that one out and it didn’t come all the way out of the nest? I’ve set her back on them or tucked any I’ve seen that were sort of out and she hasn’t kicked any out to my knowledge. Wouldn’t she roll them all out right now if they weren’t alive? It’s day 21.

If she’ll sit, let her sit. Don’t remove eggs unless there’s an egg that’s kicked out. That egg you can hold in one hand and shine a bright flashlight up through it. If the insides of the egg are dark or don’t light up like a store bought egg, then put it back under the hen.
***** edited to add, offer her some scratch in a little cup in the morning.

 

[Buffberry]

F

That makes me feel better, as it’s been solidly in the low 30s and sometimes low 20s around here. She’s been on them all day today and we’re going into a cold snap, so it makes sense it could take a couple more days. I’ll keep a close eye on her! With it being super cold the next couple of days, do you think she’ll be able to keep them warm enough if they do hatch?

Yes, she will keep them warm. Best to disturb her as little as possible now and let her get on with it herself. When they start hatching you can gently remove the empty egg shells from the nest. Don't give up and discard any eggs now - you may get rid of viable chicks.

 

[Cinnaqueen3305]

JaeG is right, they sometimes get up briefly even when eggs are pipping (if they have to go, they have to go...). It stops accidents in the nest. Also remember that the eggs may well not hatch on day 21, especially if temperatures are cold where you are. I've had bantam broodies sitting on eggs where they didn't start hatching till day 23 and all was well.

It’s day 23 (unless I calculated wrong) and no signs of pipping, hatching, movement, or anything. She’s not been off of them since Friday morning that I can tell.

 

[Cinnaqueen3305]

JaeG is right, they sometimes get up briefly even when eggs are pipping (if they have to go, they have to go...). It stops accidents in the nest. Also remember that the eggs may well not hatch on day 21, especially if temperatures are cold where you are. I've had bantam broodies sitting on eggs where they didn't start hatching till day 23 and all was well.

It’s the end of say 23 (unless I calculated wrong) and not a single sign of pipping, hatching or anything else. I went ahead and candled the eggs again tonight. 3 were duds. Zero movement, no veins, and not the right size for how old they should be. It appears they died at least a few days ago if not longer. I left 2 eggs that were actively wiggling around and I feel good that they’ll have a chance of hatching. Even if seems really late. It’s got to be soon.

 

[Buffberry]

It’s the end of say 23 (unless I calculated wrong) and not a single sign of pipping, hatching or anything else. I went ahead and candled the eggs again tonight. 3 were duds. Zero movement, no veins, and not the right size for how old they should be. It appears they died at least a few days ago if not longer. I left 2 eggs that were actively wiggling around and I feel good that they’ll have a chance of hatching. Even if seems really late. It’s got to be soon.

Hopefully they'll start to pip by morning. All the best!

 

[JCaseyHammond]

It’s day 23 (unless I calculated wrong) and no signs of pipping, hatching, movement, or anything. She’s not been off of them since Friday morning that I can tell.

She’s a determined broody to be attempting to hatch out of season! I’m sure you will tell us if you see movement when candling the eggs, or hear peeping when you tap eggs with your finger.

It could be that your icy weather has stopped the eggs’ development, in which case, this may be a blessing in disguise.

https://extension.uga.edu/publicati... Factors to Control when Brooding Chicks#phys

The above link is for research done on raising broiler chicks without broody mother hens. However, it’s still worth reading by backyard chicken keepers. Some of the info is useful (90 degree floor temp, like in summertime, helps chicks’ future health).

You can let her sit a couple more days. But if you decide to dispose of the eggs, consider breaking one open and let the broody see that the chick is not moving. There is no harm in helping her learn when is the best time of year to raise chicks. It might help the hen to stop being broody during winter. Also, consider dusting her backside with cold wood ash if you have it, against any body bugs she may have picked up while sitting so long.
In any case, make sure she goes to sleep each night with a full crop

 

[JCaseyHammond]

Hopefully they'll start to pip by morning. All the best!

Yay! Two are still alive!

 

[Cinnaqueen3305]

Yay! Two are still alive!

So one hatched very early this morning, day 24, and in the process of me trying to get them into the brooder (our temps took a huge dip and are in the single digits, windchill is sometimes negative) I squished the chick. I’m sick!!! I was just trying to help and keep it from being exposed. I am so upset with myself! She is still sitting on a viable bantam egg, and I hope it hatches out fine. I just can’t believe that after all the trouble and worry over this first hatch, I killed the poor thing.
My broody is still faithfully sitting on the last egg but is she traumatized? Do they even realize or mourn when they’ve lost a chick?

 

[JCaseyHammond]

So one hatched very early this morning, day 24, and in the process of me trying to get them into the brooder (our temps took a huge dip and are in the single digits, windchill is sometimes negative) I squished the chick. I’m sick!!! I was just trying to help and keep it from being exposed. I am so upset with myself! She is still sitting on a viable bantam egg, and I hope it hatches out fine. I just can’t believe that after all the trouble and worry over this first hatch, I killed the poor thing.
My broody is still faithfully sitting on the last egg but is she traumatized? Do they even realize or mourn when they’ve lost a chick?

You are doing the best you can. Accidents will happen. Once my young broody was so excited she jumped up and down squishing her first hatched. I could see her looking at it. After a moment I removed it and put the next hatching egg under the front of her chest. I believe she did mourn the loss, but I asked her to move forward with the next hatchling. Another time, I lost my balance and my foot came down at the exact moment a chick ran by. If you can, please mourn the loss while moving forward.

Edited to add, maybe let her keep the next chick.

 

[Cinnaqueen3305]

Thank you!! I intended to let her keep the chick, it was while moving them both on the nesting pad that the chick somehow came out from under her and got squished. So momma and egg are still in the brooder now, and I hope it’ll hatch so she has a chance to raise it. She’s pretty devout and I don’t want her to keep sitting. I know it’s not good for them to do that back to back. I’m afraid if it doesn’t hatch she’ll want to keep sitting.
I know it was just an accident, but it still feels pretty horrible for a soft-hearted first timer!