HELP! broody died eggs are dying

[chickens really]

Hello, get rid of the straw. If it has mites the Chicks will get them too. Place the eggs in a box on a towel..Put a container of water next to the eggs and damp paper towels..You can Candle to make sure the air cells are in proper hatching position.
You will need a lid and someway to keep the humidity up to trap in the heat and humidity..Best of luck..

 

[chuckachucka]

How many watts are the light bulbs you are using? I'm thinking there could be too much heat based on your photo if they are more than 60w. You could try soaking the towel around them in hot water, wring it out to remove excess water, and put it back so the eggs are not directly touching it through the straw. This will help with humidity.

 

[chuckachucka]

Cancel my last idea. Chickensreally's idea is much better. Some kind of box with towels or paper towels, a lid and a small shallow dish of water.

 

[Spiderduck]

I would absolutely candle then with a torch in a dark place. You won't hurt them by moving them at this stage. You can see if they are drawing down and also if they have already internally pipped. After internalnpip you can help them hatch, but before that there is nothing you can do. You can also usually see if they are still alive or not. No point in doing this if they are already dead. How long were they outside without the hen and in what temps?

Maybe I will candle then soon enough.
The hen was dead off her egg nest.
How long for I am not sure. We go to check on them at around 9am. Maybe a few hours she could have died.
The tempreture is fairly good for now it was maybe around 5 or 6 degrees. Not cold at all. Otherwise my feet would have froze!

Anyway as soon as we found her, we removed her and gathered the eggs and bought them inside. With lamp and blankets.
Maybe a few of them will survive if not many. Of course I dont have an incubator so cant control the temp or humidity. But maybe the chicks are strong?
I mean they are due to hatch today. So far i have seen no movement or cracks in the eggs.

 

[rebrascora]

Have you ditched that mite infested straw yet? The towel will be crawling with them too now. Those mites will infest the chicks as soon as they hatch and can infect them with disease as well as make them weak by sucking their blood. Get rid of the straw and the towel and get a clean towel. The mites may even have caused the death of the broody. In the future, always dust a broody's nest with DE or louse powder before you set a nest of eggs.
Have you added a source of moisture to the box as others have suggested? Humidity is really important, especially with heat lamps as they are very drying. The egg membranes will go dry and leathery if there is not enough moisture in the atmosphere and the chicks will get shrink wrapped.... if they have survived this far.
Good luck

 

[sphillips]

I don't have any idea about incubating, but what about a damp towel on the bottom with a drier towel on top and then a layer of straw to help with the humidity? Just a thought........

 

[Spiderduck]

Have you ditched that mite infested straw yet? The towel will be crawling with them too now. Those mites will infest the chicks as soon as they hatch and can infect them with disease as well as make them weak by sucking their blood. Get rid of the straw and the towel and get a clean towel. The mites may even have caused the death of the broody. In the future, always dust a broody's nest with DE or louse powder before you set a nest of eggs.
Have you added a source of moisture to the box as others have suggested? Humidity is really important, especially with heat lamps as they are very drying. The egg membranes will go dry and leathery if there is not enough moisture in the atmosphere and the chicks will get shrink wrapped.... if they have survived this far.
Good luck

Oohh dear.
Okay i will throw the straw/next away.
Would it be okay to gently transfer the eggs by hand onto the towel?

Also what to do about mites on the eggs?

Shall i spray them with mite rid spray or put powder on and around them? Would that be okay to do?

I suspect the lamp is hot but i placed it so the eggs are warm.

I will also add damp towels. Or something for the humidity.

 

[PirateGirl]

You could read up on dry hatching while you wait since you don't have a great way to check/control humidity. I have not done it, but many are successful with it.

 

[PirateGirl]

Also just wanted to check in because I believe today is the expected hatch day. I hope you have some activity from your eggs soon!

 

[Windy_Acres]

I wouldn't spray or powder the eggs- I'd just check them and brush any mites off. No need to worry about gently moving them- when chicks hatch in an incubator, they roll the unhatched eggs all over the place, without a problem.

Did you think about candling them yet? While you move them would be a great time!