Can I remove a pipping egg?

[derby]

My chick eggs are due Sunday, but my broody hen is also sitting on a duck egg that is due 1 week later. Can I removed the chick eggs as they pip and let them hatch in the house or do they still need to be incubated after that point? I just want the mom to keep sitting on the duck egg which I know is viable.

Derby

 

[Marlinchaser]

Do you have an incubator set up already. They need to stay under mom, or in the incubator till they are dry. If not you could try taking them as they hatch, and putting them in a brooder right away, But like an incubator it is best to let the mom alone till hatch is over to keep heat on all the other eggs. Only problem may be that she gives up on the duck egg, after most of her others have hatched. Broodies tend to give up on unhatched eggs after couple days.

 

[derby]

I have a friend running an incubator right now. Think I could move a pipping egg over to her incubator so Mom will continue to sit on the duck egg? Or I can definately set up a brooder box real quickly here.

 

[Msbear]

The hen won't leave the nest til a day or two after the hatch... so just wait til the egg hatches and put the chick in a brooder like Marlinchaser said. Then return the chick to momma once everyone has hatched.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Or- you could take the duck egg and put it in the incubator. Then mom can take care of the chicks. No worries!

 

[Msbear]

Quote:
very good point