dead chicks in nest with broody hen and other eggs

[modkevin]

Fist time chicken owner and have a broody hen that has been sitting on eggs since 8/16. i checked under her today and saw that two eggs were broken and there were two dead chicks. have no idea what to do. there are still 6 eggs under her and need some advice. i have never owned chickens before and she is my only one left. she has chicken food and water near her but am not set up for chi arrival, thought i had a few more days. please help...

 

[keljonma]

Remove the dead ones and the egg shells. It could be that they started to pip and then stopped because they were strong enough to complete hatch. Or the hen may have known something was wrong.

Set up the brooder for the chicks, so it is ready for the rest to hatch. It may be that you will have to remove the chicks, if she isn't going to raise them herself.

Is this her first clutch of eggs? and how old is the hen?

 

[miss_thenorth]

Normal incubation for eggs is 21 days. I think all that have hatched are all that will hatch.

I would take the eggs away, as they will more than likely be bad, and also remove the two dead chicks. Shoo the mom off the nest, in an attempt to break her broodiness. She will get over it eventually.

I had a hatch similar to yours.

Sorry,

 

[modkevin]

sorry, the eggs have been since 8/22, not 8/15. i have no idea if this is her first time. she was a rescue chicken but she has not had any in a year. hat does set up the brooder mean. she is in a coop in a box with shavings. she has food and water near her but if there is something more please be specific. she is my son's school chicken and the rooster disappeared the same time she became broody so she is all alone. i did remove the hatched eggs and chickens. how often should I check in and how do I raise them with out her, just chick food and water?

 

[keljonma]

You said you weren't ready for chicks yet. What were you planning on doing with the chicks?

Most people use some sort of brooder for chicks. This can be a cardboard box, a kiddie pool, an old aquarium.

It needs shavings or bedding and should be covered with paper towels or those non-slip shelf liners for a couple days.

The chicks need chick starter feed or start and grow feed plus fresh water. You can put vitamins/electrolytes in the water.

If you are not having the mama hen raise them, the chicks will need a lamp for heat.

If you are going to wait a few days to see if the rest hatch, you can leave mama hen and the eggs where they are. If any of the rest hatch, keep an eye on mama hen to see if she is okay with them or trying to hurt them. It is possible that you won't see a newly hatched chick for a day, as mama hen tries to keep it under her and warm until it is dried out. The chicks won't need food for a day or so, but it should be available. It won't hurt the mama hen to eat the starter feed.

 

[modkevin]

She is by herself in a coop so i am not sure if I should mover her now to a new place. I will get starter food tomorrow but I was doing the school a favor keeping her over the summer since no one is at school, so i guess i have bitten off more than i can chew. there is a ramp that goes down into the yard from the coop. should I block this off so they don't fall out? Any advice is welcome. i was planning on her handling it and not intervening but now I am not sure if that is what i should do.

 

[keljonma]

I wouldn't move her now.

The hen will need to be able to have a place to poo and once the chicks are hatched, she will want them to follow her. If the ramp is high, that can be dangerous to a chick.

 

[modkevin]

i am not going to move her but not sure what to do about the ramp. i will check on her tommorrow when i bring her the new food and water. hopefully she will be ok until then