Does a broody muma assist with hatching?

[L1sa]

Just an inquiry really. I've read lots about whether or not to intervene and assist hatching. But would a broody muma assist her babies if they appear to need a bit of help?

 

[chuckachucka]

In my experience the hens do not assist. I have hatched many eggs with broodies and had a couple of end stage fatalities where the chick never completed hatch. The mother hen's job is to provide the perfect environment for hatch. The natural way is the chicks have to do all the work of hatching by themselves to prove they are strong enough to survive.

 

[chuckachucka]

Having said that I am absolutely pro-assisting. If afterward the chick turns out to have a serious defect or something that prevented it from hatching by itself, there is the option of culling, but at least I have given it the best chance I could. In most cases where chicks go to full term and then fail to hatch in artificial incubation, it is because the environment wasn't perfect though (I.e incorrect temps or humidity) .

 

[chickens really]

I never interfere because humans can cause stress to Momma hatching...