Hatching Failure. What to do Next?

[Lifeiseasy]

I currently have 15 RIR eggs under a broody on about day 8. I just candled them with our new Brinsea high powered candler only to find that not a single one had veins or any other definite sign of growth . My guess is that they were unfertilized due to my rooster not feeling his best. The most "growth" we have seen is that two of the eggs have a very tiny dark dot in them but thats it. On day eight, especially under a broody, I know there should be more.

So I have a question and I don't want to give up on trying to hatch eggs unless I absolutely have to. Therefore, what's the longest someone would say a hen could healthily sit on eggs? She has been eating and drinking rather well in the mornings and getting up for a second whenever she feels she needs to (the food and water are kinda right next to her so it's not too detrimental for her to take a small break). Should I put some fertilized eggs from a friend under her? Try to hatch my friends eggs with a bator? Or break her of her broodiness and pray another one goes broody once my rooster is back in swing? All of my chickens are only a year old and this is the first time I have ever had a broody so I'm not sure any of the other will go broody any time soon. I'm at a loss with what to do here.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Maybe I'm in the wrong, but I leave all eggs in there until day 14, because I had a couple surprises that turned out to be viable, growing chicks that I thought were quitters I've never had an egg explode in my incubator or under a hen.

 

[Lifeiseasy]

Maybe I'm in the wrong, but I leave all eggs in there until day 14, because I had a couple surprises that turned out to be viable, growing chicks that I thought were quitters I've never had an egg explode in my incubator or under a hen.

I would do that, but I'm afraid that if I do it will be to late for her to possibly sit on a new clutch of eggs if the originals are in fact infertile. I don't want her sitting too long because I know it can cause problems and she gets pretty upset when she notices she isn't in the big coop with the other girls (she's locked into the house part of a small coop with my somehow freakishly skinny rooster, we're trying to fix his issue, it's not contagious).

 

[HuskerHens18]

I would do that, but I'm afraid that if I do it will be to late for her to possibly sit on a new clutch of eggs if the originals are in fact infertile. I don't want her sitting too long because I know it can cause problems and she gets pretty upset when she notices she isn't in the big coop with the other girls (she's locked into the house part of a small coop with my somehow freakishly skinny rooster, we're trying to fix his issue, it's not contagious).

I had a hen sit on eggs continuously for 6 weeks, no issue. Maybe you should put HER eggs in your incubator and buy ones you know are fertile to put underneath her. It's just a thought though

 

[Lifeiseasy]

I had a hen sit on eggs continuously for 6 weeks, no issue. Maybe you should put HER eggs in your incubator and buy ones you know are fertile to put underneath her. It's just a thought though

I might try that, just to see what’s up with these eggs and get some incubator experience. I’ll have to ask my mom what she thinks and I’ll post the outcome. Thank you.

 

[bobbi-j]

Another option would be to look for some chicks (the younger the better) to put under her. Because they don't get up much while setting, chickens can lose condition while being broody. Another thing to think about - her hormones may tell her to get off the nest after she's been sitting for around 3 weeks. So if she's already been on them for a week, and if you give her eggs now, she could get off the nest in 2 weeks. (I had one that would do that. When 3 weeks were up, she was done.) If you do decide to get her eggs, have an incubator and brooder ready if she does leave the nest.

 

[Lifeiseasy]

Another option would be to look for some chicks (the younger the better) to put under her. Because they don't get up much while setting, chickens can lose condition while being broody. Another thing to think about - her hormones may tell her to get off the nest after she's been sitting for around 3 weeks. So if she's already been on them for a week, and if you give her eggs now, she could get off the nest in 2 weeks. (I had one that would do that. When 3 weeks were up, she was done.) If you do decide to get her eggs, have an incubator and brooder ready if she does leave the nest.

I’ll ask my mom about the tag team broody bator option. Right now my friend is not replying so I don’t even know about using her eggs. Nobody around me has chicks right now, chick days ended a while ago and I can’t order because the minimums are too high. We’ll just have to see what comes up.

 

[Lifeiseasy]

My friend said yes! I should be getting some eggs Monday. They’ll be either half Speckled Sussex or half Buckeye/Speckled Sussex so all of them will be at least 1/4 SS. Hopefully my girl doesn’t quit on them. My moms already asleep so I can’t ask her about what we’ll do if she does. So we’ll just see! I’ll probably put some Nutridrench in her water from now on to help her (I probably should’ve done that already that’s my fault).