Day 20- poopy broody on the nest and no chirping?

[Chicken Soap with Nuts]

She pooped herself. I was worried because I locked her up in the nestbox/roost area on day 18 and I haven't seen any poop in the roost area and she hasn't gotten up off the eggs as far as I can tell. Tonight I went to check because I thought I'd heard a popping sound and I'm super paranoid about an egg exploding. I looked under the eggbox (there's a wire bottom, but we have nesting pads over it except in the middle there's a tiny gap) and in the space of the tiny gap I saw some poop dripped on top of the makeshift cardboard nesting box I made for the other chicken. I tried to check in the nestbox without disturbing any eggs and she definitely pooped herself. I think she's keeping the eggs further up on her chest, so I'm hoping they're not poopy, but the chicks are going to be born into a poopy nest if they're born.

That's the other thing. It's day 20, maybe 12 hrs in or so, and I haven't heard any chirping. Is it normal for them not to chirp by now? Or can you just not hear it if they're under the hen? It was cool and rainy today. It's 45˚F right now tonight.

What do I do about the poop?

 

[Chicken poppy]

She pooped herself. I was worried because I locked her up in the nestbox/roost area on day 18 and I haven't seen any poop in the roost area and she hasn't gotten up off the eggs as far as I can tell. Tonight I went to check because I thought I'd heard a popping sound and I'm super paranoid about an egg exploding. I looked under the eggbox (there's a wire bottom, but we have nesting pads over it except in the middle there's a tiny gap) and in the space of the tiny gap I saw some poop dripped on top of the makeshift cardboard nesting box I made for the other chicken. I tried to check in the nestbox without disturbing any eggs and she definitely pooped herself. I think she's keeping the eggs further up on her chest, so I'm hoping they're not poopy, but the chicks are going to be born into a poopy nest if they're born.

That's the other thing. It's day 20, maybe 12 hrs in or so, and I haven't heard any chirping. Is it normal for them not to chirp by now? Or can you just not hear it if they're under the hen? It was cool and rainy today. It's 45˚F right now tonight.

What do I do about the poop?

Yes its normal. The chirps are very faint, leave the eggs. Im not sure about the poop, honestly id leave it, if its really bad like you described though is there anyway to get in there without disturbing the eggs?

 

[Ridgerunner]

she definitely pooped herself.

I don't know what happened. A broody hen should know instinctively to not poop in her nest but sometimes one fails. Maybe locking her in there at 18 days messed her up, I don't know.

I think she's keeping the eggs further up on her chest, so I'm hoping they're not poopy, but the chicks are going to be born into a poopy nest if they're born.

What do I do about the poop?

Since it is dripping it has to be kind of liquid or soupy. The poop itself isn't the real problem, it's just messy. The danger comes if bacteria start to grow in it. Bacteria can kill the unhatched embryo or the chicks after they hatch. If it were dry that would not happen but it sounds like it is not dry. If it were dry I'd probably leave her alone. If it is damp I'd probably clean out the nest and put new bedding in there for the duration. You are not in a god situation, I don't see a good answer. Just do the best you can.

That's the other thing. It's day 20, maybe 12 hrs in or so, and I haven't heard any chirping. Is it normal for them not to chirp by now?

The 21 day thing for them to hatch is not set in stone. It is not that unusual for eggs to hatch a couple of days early or late, even under a broody hen. That's assuming you counted the days right, many people don't. An egg does not have a days worth of development when you put it in the incubator or under a broody. It takes 24 hours for it to have a day's worth of development An easy way to check your counting is that the day of the week you set them is the day the 21 days is up. If you set them on Thursday then the 21 days is up on a Thursday. If you did count the days right they still might not be ready to hatch for another day or so.

Sometimes you can hear the chick chirping even before it hatches. Often you cannot. They aren't always chirping when under the hen even after they hatch, they can be tired and need to rest. You don't know what is going on under that hen. Waiting can be extremely frustrating.

 

[Chicken Soap with Nuts]

I don't know what happened. A broody hen should know instinctively to not poop in her nest but sometimes one fails. Maybe locking her in there at 18 days messed her up, I don't know.


Since it is dripping it has to be kind of liquid or soupy. The poop itself isn't the real problem, it's just messy. The danger comes if bacteria start to grow in it. Bacteria can kill the unhatched embryo or the chicks after they hatch. If it were dry that would not happen but it sounds like it is not dry. If it were dry I'd probably leave her alone. If it is damp I'd probably clean out the nest and put new bedding in there for the duration. You are not in a god situation, I don't see a good answer. Just do the best you can.


The 21 day thing for them to hatch is not set in stone. It is not that unusual for eggs to hatch a couple of days early or late, even under a broody hen. That's assuming you counted the days right, many people don't. An egg does not have a days worth of development when you put it in the incubator or under a broody. It takes 24 hours for it to have a day's worth of development An easy way to check your counting is that the day of the week you set them is the day the 21 days is up. If you set them on Thursday then the 21 days is up on a Thursday. If you did count the days right they still might not be ready to hatch for another day or so.

Sometimes you can hear the chick chirping even before it hatches. Often you cannot. They aren't always chirping when under the hen even after they hatch, they can be tired and need to rest. You don't know what is going on under that hen. Waiting can be extremely frustrating.

The first chick died. I tried to clean up the bulk of the poop, but there was still some stuck to the broody's feathers. I went back to try to clean up her backside and noticed the dead chick near her foot. Not sure if she stepped on it or if it ate poop or what. The others haven't pipped yet. Also noticed she has some sort of mite or lice all over her backside now. Not sure what to do. Worried about the other eggs. Don't have an incubator, just a heating plate.

 

[Chicken poppy]

The first chick died. I tried to clean up the bulk of the poop, but there was still some stuck to the broody's feathers. I went back to try to clean up her backside and noticed the dead chick near her foot. Not sure if she stepped on it or if it ate poop or what. The others haven't pipped yet. Also noticed she has some sort of mite or lice all over her backside now. Not sure what to do. Worried about the other eggs. Don't have an incubator, just a heating plate.

Do you have another broody hen to take the eggs? She doesnt sound ready to be a mom yet. Also, im sorry for your loss.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The mites or lice should have nothing to do with the poop, but they are very dangerous to the hen and the chicks. Get a mite or lice spray at the feed store and spray the broody hen, any chicks and eggs, and the nest. That will not solve the problem long term but may enable you to get through the hatch.