Day 18 crack

[Aunt ruth]

Ok, so it's day 18 of hatching under a broody. I was moving the eggs around, getting he birds in place for the hatch and i managed to crack one of the eggs when I was picking it up. It's a hairline crack but it's long. should it be ok until it hatches or should I try to repair it? It was sitting in the bottom of a wood nest box but I put a plastic strawberry container filled with newspaper and sat that inside the nest box. I didn't remove the newspaper that was in there all ready so the plastic is elevated over the wood. I'm hoping the springyness of the plastic will prevent another crack. Will the eggs be warm enough this way?

 

[bobbi-j]

I'd just let them be for a few days, and let the mama do her job. I'm not sure what you mean by "getting the birds in place for the hatch". Were you moving the broody and her nest? Can the broody fit inside that container? If not, she may not be able to keep them warm enough. I'm not sure why you put them in the container.

 

[Aunt ruth]

I'd just let them be for a few days, and let the mama do her job. I'm not sure what you mean by "getting the birds in place for the hatch". Were you moving the broody and her nest? Can the broody fit inside that container? If not, she may not be able to keep them warm enough.  I'm not sure why you put them in the container. 

She was in the nest box where the other chickens lay. It's also four feet off the ground. Since she didn't take to moving before the hatch I'll have to try again when they hatch.

 

[Aunt ruth]

When the babies hatch I don't want one of them to fall out out have another hen push them out when she tries to lay her eggs.

 

[Aunt ruth]

this is what she is in. Along with another broody. Not a very chick friendly environment.

 

[Aunt ruth]

The broody fits btw. It's the same size as the current box.

 

[Aunt ruth]

 

[AmericanMom]

There was no need for you to move her or the eggs around. my hen hatched from the very top nesting box, five feet off the ground, I would check under her every couple days and remove any new eggs that were laid but a week before the due date I left her completely alone, she moves and turns the eggs where they need to be, as humans we think we know whats best but hens have been doing this without is for thousands of years. when all five had hatched momma jumped out of the box and one by one the chicks followed, the only thing I did to prepare was lay more straw and shavings on the floor.

 

[Aunt ruth]

How did the chicks get back up?

 

[AmericanMom]

How did the chicks get back up?

She didn't even attempt to take them up, she instead now keeps them in the lowest box at night... She will find a secure spot closer to the ground after they hatch, maybe set her a box in the corner of the coop??... And as far as the cracked egg, I wouldn't mess with it, you could by trying to fix it do more harm than good.

I had the same concern when my hen chose that box and refused the attempts at moving her, but there are so many great people here who gave me sound advice I just left her.. She is a hen that is never supposed to go broody so she was my surprise hatcher... Love her!!