First chick hatching and have urgent question!

[erinsbigsister]

I have a broody hen sitting on about 7 eggs. I say "about" because we started with 11 and some have...disappeared.

Anyway - today is day 21 and I went out there to find she had pushed one egg out of the nest. It was still fine - though cold - so I put it back. When I lifted her to put it back, I noticed that one of my eggs had a lot of the shell off, but the white membrane seems to be still in tact.
I didn't want to sit there staring at it and let things get cold, so I just put her back down on the nest.

Do you think this is probably fine? And can I lift her peiodically to check or should I just completely and totally wait until the chicks show up on their own?

Thanks! Really need some advice!

Jen

 

[chasehope]

I would leave it alone and let nature take its course. It will eather make it or not. Chances are that if you try to help it, it won't make it, but it still has a chance with its Mom. I had this happen where I think that the henstarted to open the egg for some reason and I just left them alone and the chick hatched out the next day and was just fine. good luck.

 

[erinsbigsister]

Thanks! I will let them be and hope for the best.

It's so hard to resist picking her up and watching them hatch!

 

[chasehope]

it is hard, but soon enough you will see them all. Good luck and be strong!