Chick hatched early. Need advice ASAP!

[ColinK48]

I’d personally wait to take it and put the chick in a brooder. Keep in mind that it will be very lonely and need a buddy, also If you take it from her now they likely won’t have a bond when they’re able to be reintroduced once the other eggs hatch. I’d be pretty surprised though if you don’t have another chick pip in the night or early tomorrow so waiting is probably your best rout for now unless she’s showing obvious signs of wanting to leave the nest. I’ve had hens that have hatched out chicks for an entire week only hatching one sometimes two every 24 hours. for now I’d just make sure food and a water dish the chicks can’t drown in nor will get spilled into the nest are within reaching distance or a short walk from the hen where she can easily feed the hat hatched chick while still keeping on the nest. I’d also say it’d be best (if you’ve got an incubator) to go ahead and heat it up and get lockdown humidity levels so that if she gets up you can pop and Unhatched or pipped eggs in and hatch them yourself and then pop the chicks as they hatch sneakily under her at night so she’s still mothering them all. Hope this is helpful!!

Thank you. I don’t have an incubator. I’m going to check if any other eggs have pipped. So you think she would sit for another 4 or 5 days with one chick already hatched?

 

[ColinK48]

So, your eggs are on day 16? Is that right?

How's your weather been?

Yes day 16. The weather has been 70 to 80 at a high and down to 55 at night

 

[MysteryChicken]

Yes day 16. The weather has been 70 to 80 at a high and down to 55 at night

The high temperature most likely contributed to your one chick hatching early, so you should expect more to hatch soon. The heat will be maintained under the broody hen during the night.

 

[reddirtbirds]

Thank you. I don’t have an incubator. I’m going to check if any other eggs have pipped. So you think she would sit for another 4 or 5 days with one chick already hatched?

It really depends on the hen and how determined she is. Just keep a good eye on her body language. Some hens get fed up of sitting and some get discouraged it seems but some sit until the very last egg hatches.

 

[ColinK48]

The high temperature most likely contributed to your one chick hatching early, so you should expect more to hatch soon. The heat will be maintained under the broody hen during the night.

Ok. Do you think she would sit for 4 more days if that’s how long it took for the rest of the eggs

 

[ColinK48]

It really depends on the hen and how determined she is. Just keep a good eye on her body language. Some hens get fed up of sitting and some get discouraged it seems but some sit until the very last egg hatches.

Ok. Do you think I should leave it. It may be four more days before more hatch. She seems determined. I went to look at a couple eggs to see if they pipped and she put them back underneath right away

 

[ColinK48]

UPDATE—— one more chick has pipped. Does everyone think I should leave the chick???. Do you think she would sit for four more days???. Also does the peeping sounds from the hatched chick encourage other chicks that would normally stay in to hatch longer??? Thanks for the help everyone. Sorry I have so many questions. I just hope she stays to hatch the rest over the next few days. I did not mean to have a staggered hatch but I guess it happens sometimes

 

[MysteryChicken]

Ok. Do you think she would sit for 4 more days if that’s how long it took for the rest of the eggs

Possibly. You'll need to keep food, & water in her sitting station so she, & her baby ca eat, & drink during the wait.

 

[MysteryChicken]

UPDATE—— one more chick has pipped. Does everyone think I should leave the chick???. Do you think she would sit for four more days???. Also does the peeping sounds from the hatched chick encourage other chicks that would normally stay in to hatch longer??? Thanks for the help everyone. Sorry I have so many questions. I just hope she stays to hatch the rest over the next few days. I did not mean to have a staggered hatch but I guess it happens sometimes

Yes leave the chick.

 

[reddirtbirds]

UPDATE—— one more chick has pipped. Does everyone think I should leave the chick???. Do you think she would sit for four more days???. Also does the peeping sounds from the hatched chick encourage other chicks that would normally stay in to hatch longer??? Thanks for the help everyone. Sorry I have so many questions. I just hope she stays to hatch the rest over the next few days. I did not mean to have a staggered hatch but I guess it happens sometimes

Yes leave the little one for sure! I can’t imagine she’ll leave the nest especially if she has chicks hatching/pipping at a decent rate. If she does get up and up for good make sure none of the remaining eggs are pipped if they are you can help them hatch your self with a heat lamp, a wash cloth, waiting and non sharp tweezers.