Hatched eggs!

[TheOgdensmenagerie]

Woohoo I offically have 1 chick hatched under my Broody!
How many days should I give her for the other eggs???

 

[Laodicia]

Woohoo I offically have 1 chick hatched under my Broody!
How many days should I give her for the other eggs???

She will get up when she wants. just dispose of any eggs that are left after that.

 

[MillersFarm]

What day are you on? I'd give it 3-4 days, after day 21.

 

[RodNTN]

A chick can live off of its yolk reserve for up to 3 days, so just give it a few days
A hen will get up if she knows the eggs aren't going to hatch (in my cases). So just leave it up to the hen, she knows what she's doing

 

[TheOgdensmenagerie]

What day are you on? I'd give it 3-4 days, after day 21.

We are on day 24 but this one jist hatched yesterday.

A chick can live off of its yolk reserve for up to 3 days, so just give it a few days
A hen will get up if she knows the eggs aren't going to hatch (in my cases). So just leave it up to the hen, she knows what she's doing

They are way above the food and water. Nest is about 3ft up in the air. Should I move it up to their level?? I'm worried chick is gunna get starved or thirsty and not be able to get back to mama to keep warm.

 

[MillersFarm]

We are on day 24 but this one jist hatched yesterday.




They are way above the food and water. Nest is about 3ft up in the air. Should I move it up to their level?? I'm worried chick is gunna get starved or thirsty and not be able to get back to mama to keep warm.

Have you tried candling the eggs and looking for internal pips? I wouldn't expect much more to hatch after day 24

 

[TheOgdensmenagerie]

Have you tried candling the eggs and looking for internal pips? I wouldn't expect much more to hatch after day 24

Mama wont let me anywhere near her eggs to try and candle! I have tried to get her out muliple times but I end up with some pretty mean growls and pecking of my hands. I have not caught her off those eggs since about half way mark.

 

[song of joy]

If all of the eggs were set at the same time, they should all hatch within about a 48-hour period. The first chicks to hatch will be fine with no food and water for 48 hours as they can live off the remainder of the yolk sack that they absorb just prior to hatching.

The danger would be if the chick falls out of the nest as it won't be able to get back to mom for warmth and protection. Is there a way you can block the hen and chick into the nest for another day or so to see if anything else hatches?

 

[Deryk]

It's been my experience with broody hens that if you see one chick, there may be others you don't see under her already, especially if she won't let you check. 48 hours between first to last egg hatching is about the longest I have seen. If it were me, I would wait at least 24 hours and then when the chick(s) get too active and risk falling from the nest, move the entire nest down to the area you plan for them to brood. I usually do this after dark and the hen will go with the nest once it is moved and her chicks are there crying for her warmth. I have a small brooder built in my main coop for broody hens and chicks so this works well for me. Good luck, exciting isn't it!

 

[TheOgdensmenagerie]

So a final update! Today I moved mama Brood to the ground level with her 2 chicks! I shook her out (literally) and took the nesting box with the remaining eggs. SO GLAD I DID! cause woo the nasty smell! One chick was fully developed but still in the sack dead. I dk what happened there. The other 4 eggs where duds.

Now mama can be a good mama to her 2 chicks! Thabks for all your I,put everyone!