Day 22-23 hen laying on 14 eggs- give up? UPDATE 6/22-PIPS!!!

[sonew123]

My broody BO hen-for her first time- is sitting on 14 eggs-today is day 22-23? I check everyday and even stole one to candle 2 days ago-totallt dark but still nothing-how much longer do I give her until we take them from her or they rot and exploid? When I do take them from her will she continue to be broody?

6-22-09
day 24-I got a pip! ahhh tonight was the night I was giving up I went to hand feed and water her-I know she's spoiled-and I lifted her to check and saw a big pip! I'm sooo excited.....I hope all goes well--how am I going to sleep knowing my babies are hatching out there? Ill have to get a little earlier than normal to check on them?? I hate having to go to work when this is happening then I have a softball game I wont be home for 12-14 hours!

UPDATE TOMORROW PICTURES TOO IF ALL GOES WELL-

 

[steve2495]

at leats til day 25

 

[sonew123]

:-( OK- Its so hard waiting for her-It saddens me if none hatch because she never moves such an awesome first time mommy!

 

[roche477]

I would wait at least 2 more days. They might not be quite as far a long as you think or just delayed for some reason.

Good luck!

 

[zowieyellowflame]

I have a batch of eggs I thought would never survive under a broody because she got trapped off her nest for several hrs. One morning I was candling and it was all darkness and then I held it to my ear...... peeps! NOT ALL of my eggs that were solid had peeps, but one did so I had hope. And now I have 3 chicks and one pipped!

 

[Mahonri]

If you don't see anything by the end of day 24, take her off and make certain she gets some food and water and watch out for that broody poop... STINKY.

I hope you at least get a pip or two.

 

[KittyKelly]

Give her more time!!!!!! I hope they hatch! Good luck!

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
Oh I do-I realize that if she was starving she would stretch over to eat and drink what I provided for her but...Im a sucker and want to pamper my mamma hen-so I hand feed her and hold the water container to her beak a couple times a day to make sure-I couldn't sleep otherwise-I checked again before I headed in the house for the night no pips! Poor mommy-I think I'm taking it much harder than she would. Ill let her stay on them until Tuesday only because I will be so busy-maybe thats even better for me!-out of 14 I was hoping for most of them...then half now a few! I have 5- 4 days olds of hers in a brooder I hatched out-I so want to give them to her to go with her other chicks that hatches out. Other wise Ill have babies in the house for another few weeks again! bleah!!

 

[chicklin]

Well. If you wanted. You could go buy you some chicks before she gives up on the eggs and swap an egg for a chick

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
I have 5- 4 day old chicks--I hatched them out the same time hers were due so I could put them togther but thats not really working out :-( Id be afraid that she hurt them being so much older..