HELP! Broody stops being broody right before chicks about to hatch

[brummie]

I need some advice urgently please.

My welsummer went broody about 19 days ago so I put 8 eggs under her. She decided to stop being broody yesterday with only a day or two before hatch date. She was spending large amounts of time off the eggs the day before also, 5 hours at a time. I thought the eggs might have died of cold with her being off for 5 hours at a time (it has actually been faily hot here last few days about 20 Celsius).

Anyway, one of my black sex links has been thinking of going broody last few days. She is on nest for large portions of the day, but comes off nest 2 or 3 times a day for an hour or more at a time, so maybe not hardcore broody yet. I thought I'd try putting the welsummer's 8 eggs under her, maybe they were still alive. I put them under her last night, around day 21.

Today the BSL is off the nest for the second time, for what seems to be atleast an hour. I took a look at the eggs I put under her and thought they are probably dead. Then I noticed one of the eggs had a large crack so I was about to discard it only to notice a beak sticking out and moving and chirping. That was no crack, it was a chick breaking through. I ran out and grabbed the welsummer and put her back into the nest box with the eggs hoping she would sit and hatch them if she sees a chick hatching. She pecked a few of the eggs like she was inspecting them, thought about sitting down for a few seconds then jumped back out and ran off.

I went out and grabbed the BSL and shoved her back into the nest box. She sat back down almost immediately on the eggs. So I'm hoping she will accept and hatch the chicks. But will she considering she has only been broody for a few days and even that seems to be on and off? What if she does not, what can I do? I don't have an incubator, will the other chicks hatch without an incubator and no broody in the last few hours before hatch? Will the BSL kill the chicks? I do have a goldtop that finished looking after her chicks about 2 weeks ago (I have 2 other goldtops with their own chicks at the moment also). Considering goldtops are probably the best broodies in the world, is there any chance one of the goldtops might hatch or raise the chicks if the BSL abadons them?

 

[AmericanMom]

I need some advice urgently please.

My welsummer went broody about 19 days ago so I put 8 eggs under her. She decided to stop being broody yesterday with only a day or two before hatch date. She was spending large amounts of time off the eggs the day before also, 5 hours at a time. I thought the eggs might have died of cold with her being off for 5 hours at a time (it has actually been faily hot here last few days about 20 Celsius).

Anyway, one of my black sex links has been thinking of going broody last few days. She is on nest for large portions of the day, but comes off nest 2 or 3 times a day for an hour or more at a time, so maybe not hardcore broody yet. I thought I'd try putting the welsummer's 8 eggs under her, maybe they were still alive. I put them under her last night, around day 21.

Today the BSL is off the nest for the second time, for what seems to be atleast an hour. I took a look at the eggs I put under her and thought they are probably dead. Then I noticed one of the eggs had a large crack so I was about to discard it only to notice a beak sticking out and moving and chirping. That was no crack, it was a chick breaking through. I ran out and grabbed the welsummer and put her back into the nest box with the eggs hoping she would sit and hatch them if she sees a chick hatching. She pecked a few of the eggs like she was inspecting them, thought about sitting down for a few seconds then jumped back out and ran off.

I went out and grabbed the BSL and shoved her back into the nest box. She sat back down almost immediately on the eggs. So I'm hoping she will accept and hatch the chicks. But will she considering she has only been broody for a few days and even that seems to be on and off? What if she does not, what can I do? I don't have an incubator, will the other chicks hatch without an incubator and no broody in the last few hours before hatch? Will the BSL kill the chicks? I do have a goldtop that finished looking after her chicks about 2 weeks ago (I have 2 other goldtops with their own chicks at the moment also). Considering goldtops are probably the best broodies in the world, is there any chance one of the goldtops might hatch or raise the chicks if the BSL abadons them?

I wouldn't keep trying with the Welsummer, and I don't believe I would attempt with the other may be broody hen, she obviously isn't into it completely and could kill the chicks as they hatch...
Early this summer I had a hen go broody, long story short some of the eggs she was sitting were 4-5 days behind others, After the early eggs hatched I knew she wouldn't sit to finish off the last four so I brought them in... Here is what I did..






I had the temp around 99-100 and didn't bother with humidity... Two days later I candled and noticed two of the chicks had internally piped so I moved the whole operation to the bathroom, I turned on the shower (hot) to get the humidity up and plugged in the humidifier to maintain it, I believe I kept it between 55-60...






I believe it was the next day I had two pips and another chick had internally piped... I had 3/4 chicks hatch, gave them 24 hours and took them out and sliped them under the hen that night...she accepted all three of them
Here they are before I took them to her..





Its not something I would do all the time, but in a pinch it worked for me... Mind you if any hatch you would probably have to raise them, I wouldn't attempt the broody... also, If it were me I would put them strait into the bathroom and get the humidity up (because of the pip)

 

[brummie]

Thanks for the quick and detailed response, I will do exactly that if the BSL comes off the eggs now. But it's been a couple of hours and she is still on them and I don't want to disturb her now. I went to touch her, my hand was still about 6 inches away and she puffed out out her neck feathers and went to peck me hard like a proper broody. So hopefully she will do the job, it will save me a load of hassle, I just hope she doesn't kill the chicks thinking it's too early in her broody cycle for any chicks to be hatching.

 

[AmericanMom]

No problem... I agree, if she is sitting don't mess with her.. Good Luck!!!!!

 

[brummie]

The BSL is up and running about again. I will have to try do this myself. I have moved the eggs to my bathroom now and have a table lamp facing down on them, what temp should they be at? How long do I need to leave hot shower on for? And what position do the eggs need to be in? How long do chicks take to break through? The one that I saw breaking about 3 hours ago is still in same position with crack still same size. I can see it moving it's beak and breathing inside though. A second one has started to hatch also, the first cracks have come through. It was so much easier letting my broodies do all the work.

 

[AmericanMom]

The BSL is up and running about again. I will have to try do this myself. I have moved the eggs to my bathroom now and have a table lamp facing down on them, what temp should they be at?
Sorry it took me so long to get back, I have been out in the garden... 98-100 is where I tried to keep the temp, it took a lot of adding books and removing books til I have the right temp.

How long do I need to leave hot shower on for?
Just until it is steamy, I closed all the windows and even without the humidifier it stayed moist in there for a few hours, just remember to keep the door closed


And what position do the eggs need to be in?
Candle the eggs, you will see the air cell (fat end of egg) the part that dips lowest is the part you want facing up


How long do chicks take to break through?
When the pip the inner air cell it can take 12-24 hours for them to break through the outer shell, then another 12-24 for them to start hatching.. A lot is going on, they are getting used to breathing, absorbing the yolk sack and blood vessels..

The one that I saw breaking about 3 hours ago is still in same position with crack still same size.
Yes, it takes a lot of energy to hatch

I can see it moving it's beak and breathing inside though. A second one has started to hatch also, the first cracks have come through. It was so much easier letting my broodies do all the work.

Lol I agree, also, once they hatch and are dried off you will want to move them to a brooder, they require heat of 95 degree's for the first week and then decrease it 5 degree's each week after that.. Also make sure your brooder is big enough for them to move away if they get to warm.. Chicks do not need to eat or drink for 48-72 hours after hatch... I am going to be away from the computer for the rest of the day until this evening.. Good luck!!!

 

[brummie]

Thanks for the answers. I have been away from computer myself for last few hours. I googled around trying to find the answers to those questions. It all seems so complicated for someone who is used to letting broodies do all the work.

I struggled to even get the temp higher than 85 even with an electric heater in the bathroom. I dreaded the thought of getting everything else just right at the last minutes notice. So I decided to put the eggs back in the nest box. I then grabbed the BSL and shoved her back on the eggs. She sat down on them again. Once she had settled down and started acting broody on them, I blocked her in so she could not get out. There is no need for her to get out now until tommorow, she's had plenty to eat drink and exercise for a broody. Hopefully by then the ones that are to hatch will have hatched and she won't kill them. It's just a chance I'll have to take as I will have probably killed them anyway by doing something wrong. Checked her a short while ago, about 8 hours later and she still seems to be sitting on them acting broody, but I can't see the eggs or any chicks under her yet. Hopefully tomorrow.

I never wanted to hatch chicks myself which is exactly why I did not even bother buying an incubator, I invested in 3 Goldtops instead (Silkie x Light Sussex) which make super broodies. But this welsummer messed things up. I'll stick with letting my goldtops brood next time or another good broody breed. Will let you know how it all works out.

 

[AmericanMom]

Het I agree, if they will do it let them do it, it may sound cold hearted but at this point either she hatches them or she doesn't I know after have broodys raise three batches it sure is a lot easier on me!

 

[brummie]

Checked this morning and the BSL seems to have done it. I have seen one fully hatched chick next to her, all fluffed up, that she is clearly mothering and she is still sitting on the other eggs even though I've unblocked her. I hope atleast a couple more hatch, that would be good for this batch that's had to move around so much last couple of days with no heat source for hours at a time.

 

[AmericanMom]

Checked this morning and the BSL seems to have done it. I have seen one fully hatched chick next to her, all fluffed up, that she is clearly mothering and she is still sitting on the other eggs even though I've unblocked her.  I hope atleast a couple more hatch, that would be good for this batch that's had to move around so much last couple of days with no heat source for hours at a time.

Wonderful news!!! hoping she hatches out a few more!