Hatching time HELP

[pasofinofarm]

We have a broody hen setting 15 eggs. One chick 1 live chick now almost 48 hours old. Candled a couple of the other eggs, they are alive but not pipping.

The question here is: Do you think the hen is more or less likely to abandon the nest if we leave the live chick with her?

And what is the longest time you have seen between hatchings under a Broody Hen?

Thanks in advance

 

[buc]

First things first (I learned this the hard way when I was raising rink neck pheasants), but out a water source for the live chic, it must be low enough for it to get to.

I would not disturb the brooding hen anymore, she will do her job. I have seen 5 days between first hatch and last, so let nature do her thing.

 

[pasofinofarm]

5 days? that is amazing! We were told about 24 hours if the eggs were all set at the same time so were in a panic. Also we had one egg where the shell was all broken with a fully developed chick stuck in the internal membrane but dead with it's head still under the right wing... that made us worry even more that something was wrong...

Thanks for the advice.

 

[buc]

The regular hatching time from when an egg is "set" or placed in a bator is from 19 - 21 days, that is a span of 3 days under normal conditions.

I will say when I have an egg in the bator and have a chic dent the shell, I take a nut pick and open the dent so a hole allows air to the chic, I give them no further help.