Eggtopsy

[Zobo77]

Hi, one of my hens went broody, so I bought some fertile eggs from a local farm. She sat perfectly but none hatched. Today is day 24 and one may have popped or may have been squished by mama hen.

I was just wondering what may have gone wrong.

Also, she left the nest this morning and hasn't turned, I'm guessing the other eggs are also definitely not going to hatch...?

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Looks like shrink wrapping.

 

[Zobo77]

Ok, I've just heard 2 or 3 of the eggs chirping but mama hen has definitely given up. What do I do now?!

I've candelled them all - some are slosh, some are not fully developed. So I'm looking at 2/3 internally pipped. What do I need? And if they hatch, will mama hen be likely to accept them after a day or two?

She's been so good this whole time

 

[Logar]

Ok, I've just heard 2 or 3 of the eggs chirping but mama hen has definitely given up. What do I do now?!

I've candelled them all - some are slosh, some are not fully developed. So I'm looking at 2/3 internally pipped. What do I need? And if they hatch, will mama hen be likely to accept them after a day or two?

She's been so good this whole time

Can you move them to an incubator? If she gave up they will probably end up dead. You can try to give them to her but it will probably end up not working. Moving them to an incubator and getting a brooder set up is your best bet at making sure they make it.

 

[Zobo77]

Can you move them to an incubator? If she gave up they will probably end up dead. You can try to give them to her but it will probably end up not working. Moving them to an incubator and getting a brooder set up is your best bet at making sure they make it.

Thanks for the reply. I've borrowed an incubator from my neighbour, so

I'll get a brooder set up just in case

 

[Zobo77]

A much happier photo than the last one! Baby chick 1 has hatched, I think a welsummer.

Thanks for all the replies!

 

[Zobo77]

Update: 5 chicks have hatched and one has pipped. Day 27

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Update: 5 chicks have hatched and one has pipped. Day 27

Are they chickens? Has it been unseasonably cold? Sometimes they take a longer time to develop if it’s cold.

 

[Zobo77]

Are they chickens? Has it been unseasonably cold? Sometimes they take a longer time to develop if it’s cold.

Yep, chickens! I bought 4 maran, 4 leghorn and 4 welsummer eggs. No marans have hatched at all yet, but the welsummers all have (first is the one in the photo ) and the 3rd leghorn has just pipped overnight.

It has been quite cold and wet this summer so far. But I read so much saying that if it's past day 23 to give up and I'm so glad I listened to the few on here saying to keep going!