Fertile eggs gone cold, help!

[ChickenLove6]

I have 7 fertile eggs that are due to hatch this Sunday, but this morning my broody hen decided to leave them for an hour and then went and sat back on them. Will they be okay? Or will they have died? Please help!
Thanks in advance!

 

[oesdog]

Don;t worry - the weather is good and warm and chances are the centre of the eggs did not get too cold. Our Hen used to get off towards the end and wander about to stretch her legs. The important thing is that she went back to the nest. DO NOT DISTURB HER!
Often they know themselves if the eggs are still viable. Sometimes they will kick an egg out of the nest. We find this allarming and pop it back in but oftentimes when autopsied it is found the chick had died and the mom knew all along it would be a risk to her living chicks.
You must be patient and trust your broody. Give her plenty of food and water up close so she doesn;t have to leave the nest to eat and drink and make sure she has quiet. If she chose to go back chances are the chicks are still viable!

She should be fine. - try not to let the other chickens near her as sometimes they will try to take the eggs or kill the young chicks- It is never wise to try to move a broody hen especially at this late stage.

Oes

 

[ChickenLove6]

Thank you so much! She looks very happy sat on them now, and none have been kicked out

 

[oesdog]

Thank you so much! She looks very happy sat on them now, and none have been kicked out

Below are some helpful links.
First one is the July Hatch a long for this year.
Second is the August Hatch a long.
It doesn;t matter if your brooding or incubating as both are always covered. There are lots of folk who can help you very much on those and give you so much advice on the care of your hen and hopefully new chicks.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/793061/july-hatch-a-long/1590
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/804680/august-hatch-a-long

The third is my own experience with Brooding - My Bertha was a real charactor. Sadly no longer with us. But I put this in to give you a laugh.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/401395/beat-this-record-how-long-broody-stays-with-chicks-pics

The fourth is a link to the page on Hatching and incubating. You might like to look at the links - to the hatch a longs for future ref: But also if you press the "sticky" it will give you important links like when to intervine in a hatch and help your babies. Honestly weve had to help three hatch and they grew up fine. So worth learning.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/5/incubating-hatching-eggs

There is a whole section of raising baby chicks too do look at that as there is a real network of help advice and support there for you.

Good luck OES - don't forget to let me know when/if they hatch!

 

[ChickenLove6]

Below are some helpful links.
First one is the July Hatch a long for this year.
Second is the August Hatch a long.
It doesn;t matter if your brooding or incubating as both are always covered. There are lots of folk who can help you very much on those and give you so much advice on the care of your hen and hopefully new chicks.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/793061/july-hatch-a-long/1590
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/804680/august-hatch-a-long

The third is my own experience with Brooding - My Bertha was a real charactor. Sadly no longer with us. But I put this in to give you a laugh.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/401395/beat-this-record-how-long-broody-stays-with-chicks-pics

The fourth is a link to the page on Hatching and incubating. You might like to look at the links - to the hatch a longs for future ref: But also if you press the "sticky" it will give you important links like when to intervine in a hatch and help your babies. Honestly weve had to help three hatch and they grew up fine. So worth learning.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/5/incubating-hatching-eggs

There is a whole section of raising baby chicks too do look at that as there is a real network of help advice and support there for you.

Good luck OES - don't forget to let me know when/if they hatch!

Thank you very, very much!! They are meant to be hatching today, but no sign yet

I will defiantly keep you updated!

 

[oesdog]

Thank you very, very much!! They are meant to be hatching today, but no sign yet

I will defiantly keep you updated!

Don't disturb her at all and try to keep the other hens away as much as possible remember they can get jealous and break eggs or kill chicks. - make sure she has plenty of food and water near so she does not get off the nest or need to get off. She will sit on the eggs for as long as there is viable life inside them. You may find they are a little late to hatch if she was off and on them - but don't panic just yet. Let her do her thing after all she is the chicken not you! lol she knows how to hatch eggs better than anyone right now. Also the due date is like any birth - it seldom happens to plan and some can go as much as a week over! I know this as I have had Maran and Legbar eggs hatch on day 27/28 viable and grew up to be great roosters. Others have had Maron eggs go to 26 days and yet others have given up hope with eggs and tossed them on day 23? It is always good to wait and see and give it time.

Oes - good luck

 

[ChickenLove6]

Thanks, this is my third hatch and I'm as excited as I was the first time!

Two of the chicks have hatched and two are just starting to peep. I will take some pictures later, when they have had a little rest!!

 

[ChickenLove6]

Here they are!

 

[chickencatcher1]

Good luck with the new chicks

 

[ChickenLove6]

Good luck with the new chicks

Thank you!!