Eggs went cold. Could they still be alive?

[EllieandOlive]

Update: of the 3 eggs, 1 was rotten, 1 was fully developed but dead in shell and one hatched healthy and happy!

My blue australorp is a first time broody mama. She was excellent staying on her nest diligently for 3 weeks. She had 4 eggs under her. Today was hatch day. I have her quarantined in a large dog kennel with a nesting box inside it where she was brooding. Yesterday evening she was on her nest, other than checking food and water I left her alone, she could have had a chick hatch under her yesterday. Anyways I went out today and she is off her nest sitting on a single happy fluffy chick on the other side of the kennel. The three remaining eggs were cold. It's about 60 degrees here. Not sure if she was off them for an hour or all night.

I pulled the cold eggs and put them in my incubator. Tried candling but the shells are not see through at all on this chickens eggs (she was hatching easter egger eggs and one blue australorp that she laid herself, that's the one that hatched). I can see an air cell barely on the three cold eggs, no veins or movement because of the shell type/color.

Anyways they are in the incubator and will be for another 3 ish days before I eggtopsy.

Is there any chance they are alive after being cold for a couple hours up to a day?

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I think if they are further along in development, they have a higher chance of making it while sustaining some period of time in the cold. Could be wrong though.

 

[EllieandOlive]

I think if they are further along in development, they have a higher chance of making it while sustaining some period of time in the cold. Could be wrong though.

I sure hope so! I just know for incubating its important to have the humidity extra and heat consistent. They certainty didn't get that today.

 

[EllieandOlive]

Bump.

 

[BDutch]

it’s possible that the broody didn’t hear anything / didn’t connect with these 3 eggs and left the nest with the chick because she new there was no life in them.

Some chickens are smart creatures.

 

[EllieandOlive]

Totally possible but I'm skeptical because she is a first time mama and a few of my other first timers have had similar hiccups with not,being great moms, leaving babies to get cold, overly pecking them etc. Also these eggs were definitely fertile as I have the same eggs hatching right now in my incubator (5 chicks have pipped today, yay!), and have always hatched great for me. Usually 95% hatch rate.

 

[BDutch]

Wow that s great fertility rate. I hope they make it.

I had pairs of broodies twice. That way it’s easier for one momma to leave the nest with the hatched chicks, while the other stays put.

 

[EllieandOlive]

Wow that s great fertility rate. I hope they make it.

I had pairs of broodies twice. That way it’s easier for one momma to leave the nest with the hatched chicks, while the other stays put.

Like two hens sharing a clutch of eggs? Wow!!

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

Like two hens sharing a clutch of eggs? Wow!!

Silkies do it best! *Isn't that the breed of broody hens you have BDuch?*
I may be wrong

 

[EllieandOlive]

Wow that s great fertility rate. I hope they make it.

I had pairs of broodies twice. That way it’s easier for one momma to leave the nest with the hatched chicks, while the other stays put.

Also an update: of the three cold eggs, one was rotten. One was fully developed but dead in shell (obviously didn't make it from the cold) and one has hatched and is healthy! And I've got a brooder half full healthy chicks from my incubator today!