First time broody... Day 23! Help!

[pitbullgurl]

Hi all, I have a broody (my first) sitting on six eggs (her first). She's been doing fantastic the whole time. So much so that I've had to pull her off the nest to eat/drink/poop. I'm afraid that by doing that 1x/day the last few days, I let the humidity get too low for the eggs at a critical time & now they're all dead! At least 3 of the 6 were moving 2 days ago but no pips. Did I kill them??? I'm agonizing over here.

 

[Rakaiachick]

My understanding of a broody hen for the last 3 days they did not shift from their nest and stopped turning their eggs. Sometimes it can take longer even for a broody to hatch her eggs. So I wouldn't stress to much just yet. What's done is done. You could try candling them in a day or so if chick haven't hatched. But leave candling untill day 25.

 

[pitbullgurl]

I candled them on day 19 or so, they all looked good. Was it bad to move them at that time? Do you think the chicks are shrink wrapped? Can that happen before pipping?

 

[Rakaiachick]

I candled them on day 19 or so, they all looked good. Was it bad to move them at that time? Do you think the chicks are shrink wrapped? Can that happen before pipping?

I'm not actually sure to be honest about the shrink wrapping. I just thought prehap since they May of cooled when you lifted hen of to have a drink and food they cooled so the may hatch later. Rule of thumb is to wait untill day 25 before you discard any eggs. I would candle before discarding any though.

 

[pitbullgurl]

What could happen between day 18-19 and now that would kill them? I KNOW they were moving then. Still no pips.

 

[pitbullgurl]

YOU GUYS! THE EGGS ARE PEEPING!!!!

 

[mailmamm]

YOU GUYS! THE EGGS ARE PEEPING!!!!

Did they all hatch? Or pip? congratulations on the news.

 

[pitbullgurl]

Did they all hatch? Or pip? congratulations on the news.

Three so far and the others are pipping/zipping! On day 25! Thanks for asking