Cold eggs, day 18

[KaliMoran]

Hi all,
My broody chicken has been incubating eggs for almost three weeks now, but ended up accidentally locked out of the nesting box for a few hours this morning. The eggs felt cool (ish) to the touch. Air temp is at 75 but was cooler this am. My question is... Will this do them all in?? So sad about the event.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I had something similar happen last summer. The broody went back to the wrong nest, probably got confused by a hen laying an egg in her nest while she was out for her daily constitutional. When I found her, the eggs were cold to the touch. I put her back on the nest and she hatched 11 out of 11. They were even a full day early.

This happened at about the two week mark. At 20 days, the chicks have developed to the point that they are generating a lot of heat on their own internally, even if they feel cold. I don't recommend you lock her out as a regular thing, but the eggs probably didn't even miss the hen. Good luck with the hatch and stop beating yourself up. Things happen and I'm sure you caused no harm.

 

[KaliMoran]

Thank you, Ridgerunner! That's very reassuring to hear. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the eggs and assume the best. We havent been letting her out of her maternity ward at all (it has food, water, and plenty of space to stretch and poop) but the latch failed this morning. Hopefully no harm done!