Help!!!!!!! Abandoned Egg!

[Shannonwbl]

We let a hen go broody and she successfully hatched one chick day before yesterday. One tried to make it out but died, and she abandoned the five remaining eggs in the nest.

Tonight we were going to get rid of the remaining eggs but we heard one peeping. As I type my son is holding it in his hands to keep it warm and says he can feel it pecking the shell. We cannot see any pips.

What do we do? We don't have an incubator and the hen does not appear to be returning to the nest, but she does sit in a specific area with her baby. Should we sneak the egg under her tonight? It has been really warm here so I am not surprised that it is still alive.

I would really appreciate any quick advise!!!

 

[mnferalkitty]

oh boy...ummm small clear container like from donuts or something and put a heating pad under it on low and for humidity I would use a wash cloth that I soaked and wrung out folded as small as possible and put in the corner of the container. put paper towel in the container so the bottom is not slippery but the towel is going to make paper towel wet so put the towel on a plastic lid or something.. and make a few holes in container for oxygen flow. I am just winging it here..Good Luck

If possible try the sneak method first

 

[brahmabreeder]

If you have a heat lamp put the egg under it. Get a thermometer and keep the temperature around 95 to 100. Get a warm moist towel and wrap that around the egg. Don't let that touch the egg. Also don't mess with the egg too much. The chick has to position it's self to hatch. When it hatches and dries put it under the hen at night.

 

[Shannonwbl]

If you have a heat lamp put the egg under it. Get a thermometer and keep the temperature around 95 to 100. Get a warm moist towel and wrap that around the egg. Don't let that touch the egg. Also don't mess with the egg too much. The chick has to position it's self to hatch. When it hatches and dries put it under the hen at night.

Wrap the egg but dont let the clothe touch the egg? I don't follow.

 

[Shannonwbl]

Would a lamp or heating pad be better?

 

[Shannonwbl]

It just pipped! My son is running around like crazy trying to put this together while I "set". Pictures coming!

 

[Shannonwbl]

Here is the pip


Here is my set up. I have a heating pad under this box on low, three wadded up wet paper towels on one side and the egg on the other. The lid is on loosely to vent. of course I cannot find a thermometer ANYWHERE other than a meat thermometer. I haven't seen anymore activity since I transferred it from my hands to the box. Any advise? If nothing else happens do I help it? When? I cannot seem to read fast enough!

 

[mnferalkitty]

Wrap the egg but dont let the clothe touch the egg? I don't follow.

like a tent put something solid around the egg and close to the egg, then place the damp cloth over that but something that doesnt absorb moisture, old plstic container etc.

 

[mnferalkitty]

that looks good just feel the container if it feels warm that should be good, I don't know if it should be on low or medium your guess is as good as mine. Don't help it sometimes it takes 24 hours for them to hatch. Does the heating pad shut off automaticaly after so many minutes on?

 

[Shannonwbl]

Gottcha! The dampness is not touching the egg. It is an old heating pad so no automatic shut off. It is sitting on my bedside stand so I should be able to keep an eye on it tonight. So much for sleeping! I will post any updates.