Erm... unexpected chicks might be coming - help!

[Lemon-Drop]

So, I forgot about the eggs in the coop for a couple days, and went to collect them today. We have a rooster, and one of the hens went broody without me knowing. I cracked open an egg that she was sitting on to make sure it wasn't fertile, but what I saw was red veins and something pulsating in the middle. I feel really awful about it.

I'mm assuming that means the eggs are fertile and developing, which might mean chicks in the next couple weeks.

So any tips? I'm planning to just let her sit on them and see what happens.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Mark the eggs she is sitting on now, and every day remove any new eggs. You don't want what's known as a "staggered hatch." She will leave the nest as soon as she has a few live chicks and abandon any unhatched eggs.

 

[BelovedBirds]

So, I forgot about the eggs in the coop for a couple days, and went to collect them today. We have a rooster, and one of the hens went broody without me knowing. I cracked open an egg that she was sitting on to make sure it wasn't fertile, but what I saw was red veins and something pulsating in the middle. I feel really awful about it.

I'mm assuming that means the eggs are fertile and developing, which might mean chicks in the next couple weeks.

So any tips? I'm planning to just let her sit on them and see what happens.

you could candle them, in future if you want to check they aren't developing, I bet that must've felt pretty bad! So to try and avoid it happening again, you could use the torch from your phone, and just candle them quickly to ensure they aren't developing whenever you miss a couple days of egg collecting! I would do this now, I have never had a broody so I'm no expert, but perhaps candle the eggs to ensure they're all developing nicely, mark the ones which are and then you know what eggs are laid fresh and which to leave with her.
Best of luck with them!

-just to clarify, any eggs current under her mark and don't take, even if you don't see developement, as some eggs develop slightly slower and you can't always see development early on.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

you could candle them, in future if you want to check they aren't developing, I bet that must've felt pretty bad! So to try and avoid it happening again, you could use the torch from your phone, and just candle them quickly to ensure they aren't developing whenever you miss a couple days of egg collecting! I would do this now, I have never had a broody so I'm no expert, but perhaps candle the eggs to ensure they're all developing nicely, mark the ones which are and then you know what eggs are laid fresh and which to leave with her.
Best of luck with them!

-just to clarify, any eggs current under her mark and don't take, even if you don't see developement, as some eggs develop slightly slower and you can't always see development early on.

Thanks! Should I separate her, and make a little nest for her elsewhere, or leave her in the coop?

I'll go ahead and mark them today. Thanks again!

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Mark the eggs she is sitting on now, and every day remove any new eggs. You don't want what's known as a "staggered hatch." She will leave the nest as soon as she has a few live chicks and abandon any unhatched eggs.

Ok! Thanks! Once the chicks hatch, should I take them away from her, and put them in a brooder inside? Or leave them with her? I'm going to give them away, and I certainly don't want a rat or another chicken to hurt the new chicks once/if they hatch.

(I'm so glad I still have the supplies from when Pebbles (the broody) was a chick!)

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Since she's only been broody a few times, do you think she'll end up stopping? Should I move her inside? Will newborn babies be ok in the rain/mud/with other hens/rooster, or should I move her and the eggs inside once they seem close to hatching? If I move them inside after they hatch, should I just move the chicks or the hen as well? Sorry, lots of questions.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I've never hatched so I'm no expert! Let me call out the cavalry.
@cherrynberry? Is this in your wheelhouse?
Oh I know! @CapricornFarm hatches a lot! I think she incubates though, but she is certainly experienced and wise.

@Ridgerunner is also very knowledgeable!

 

[Lemon-Drop]

I've never hatched so I'm no expert! Let me call out the cavalry.
@cherrynberry? Is this in your wheelhouse?
Oh I know! @CapricornFarm hatches a lot! I think she incubates though, but she is certainly experienced and wise.

@Ridgerunner is also very knowledgeable!

Thanks! I've never hatched either (If it isn't obvious) so I'm both excited and nervous. It'll be sad giving them away, but at least I'll be able to have the floofers (if they hatch) for a little bit!

 

[cherrynberry]

1.) Definitely mark the eggs. Candle them and mark the ones that are alive. Didn't read through the whole thread, but do you have an incubator?
2.) Try not to move her if possible, it can cause them to quit. Once the chicks hatch, make sure to see if she will protect them well.
3.) If some eggs seem behind, you may want a plan b. If the chicks start hatching and you know that some eggs are behind, get the incubator running. Broodies will abandon the nest once they feel like their chicks that have hatched need food/water.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thanks @cherrynberry. Good idea to get an incubator and brooder ready anyway, just in case she quits?