Egg Fell Out - Help

[mommto3kiddos]

So I went to collect eggs this morning & I could hear my hens squawking. Opened the coop & my dominant hen was/had trying to run my little banty off her nest. My banty had been nesting on 2 eggs (she is a frickin broody nut) and my dominant hen had never showed signs of motherhood. Well to my surprise my banty had hatched one egg & I guess maybe my dominant hen was trying to get to it..

Anyways during all of it the other egg she was nesting on got pushed out of the nest. I picked it up and noticed it was piping. I gently put it back under my banty, set up a barrier so none of the others could get to her & the nest (also put her some water & feed beside the nest).. When I left my dominant hen was sitting in the nest box next to the wire barrier and my banty was comfy snuggled over hers..

My worry is the little hatching egg.. Could me moving it back under her kill it? It was still warm to the touch.. Should I just leave it be or try & help it out.. Thanks for any advice. She has hatched before and they all did great.. Shes a good momma...

 

[mommto3kiddos]

Here is the little one all the fuss was all about.. (looks just like his daddy in my avatar pics )

 

[ReikiStar]

Glad to hear it hatched. I can't imagine putting anything back under a broody would be a bad thing unless the broody isn't a good mother and would peck pipping eggs.

I think the bigger threat to the chicks is the broody being within access of the other chickens. Keep that barrier in place and make sure the other hens can't grab a chick through the bars.

Enjoy the new baby!

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

That egg should be fine. Leaving the nest for a second won't harm anything, the only thing that would concern me is the fall. But more then likely the chick will be fine, as they are pretty hardy little critters.

I wouldn't worry unless he has been pipped for more then 24 hours, then I'd start to intervene. But for now, I would let him stay under his mom.

Just my opinion.

 

[mommto3kiddos]

Thank You so much for responding.. The other girls are all out feeding now in the yard and there is no way they can get to momma or babies now. Im kicking myself for not putting the cage wall up sooner. My little broody banty is the sweetest thing ever. She has never pecked me through all her hatchings.. She will let you come in and hold baby and put babies back and not care at all.. Maybe b/c I bring her special treats while shes sitting for 3 weeks - I will go check again tonight after roost & see how its going. Ill keep you all posted...

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

How did it go?

I hope all is well.