Chicks Hatching But Most Are Still In Eggs

[Helena B.]

My hen is currently sitting on eggs but 3 of them hatched. She puts her head near the eggs and makes a clucking sound. Does anybody know what this means and could I help the chicks come out of the eggs because last time chicks where fully developed but just couldn't come out of the egg. Help is really appreciated thanks!.

 

[abraga]

She's clucking/talking to chicks to encourage them. Once they internally pip..they will chirp inside the egg. Have the eggs pipped? If so..how long ago? What day incubation are they on? Are u in a hot dry location..or humid area? Do u have an incubator? Usually once chicks external pip they hatch within 24hr period. They will pip some..rest some. Once they external pip they are still n process of absorbing yoke/blood from veins..if u intervien 2 soon they will bleed out or have unabsorbed yoke( death sentance)there is a link under incubation/hatching that shows step by step how to assist. If u have a bator..u could set it up at 99.5 @65/70 %humidity to hatch them urself. If it has been dry/hot where u r the chicks may not of had enough humidity.

 

[abraga]

Also..did she start sitting the eggs after they were all layed..or are the eggs l ayed at different times but were being incubated from the beginning? If she started sitting the eggs AFTER the entire clutch was layed..then chicks should hatch about the same time. But if she was sitting eggs from day 1 of laying the 1st egg..but other eggs came along later..then you will have a staggered hatch..and a whole set of other issues.

 

[Helena B.]

I don't think the eggs pipped yet, if they did they would have a bump or crack somewhere, right? I'm not sure about what day it is but 2 chicks hatched yesterday and one today. I'm in a hot and currently dry but it is humid often too. We put around 4 eggs under her one day and the rest the next day.

 

[abraga]

Well..if u are getting chicks that are hatching..id say her temp/humidity is fine. So..hopefully the chicks that are gonna hatch will hatch soon. Problems w/staggered eggs is that she may continue to sit and the chicks hatched already will starve or she may abandon her other eggs to take care of the already hatched babies. If she continues to sit..after 24hrs the chicks already hatched need food/water.

 

[Helena B.]

while she was sitting on the eggs we gave her food and water and we are making sure that the chicks have a good amount to eat and drink so she should stay there for a while