HELP! Did I just kill my babies?

[kuna-clucker]

My hen has been setting dutifully for several weeks, but she's laying eggs still. Today she wasn't on the nest so I decided to try to candle the eggs. I gathered all of them together & brought them inside. In the quietness of the house I heard some pipping so I panicked & took them all back outside to the hen! Now I'm afraid that I may have killed them! Please offer some guidance! I'm desperate!!!

 

[PurpleChicken]

Just wait it out. If she is sitting on them it should be ok.

 

[KellyHM]

If she's sitting on them she's not laying. More than likely the other hens are laying in her nest. They should be fine, but if the other hens have been laying eggs in the nest they may be at different stages.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Duh, absolutely correct. I need to read better.

 

[Chotii]

I hope you didn't just kill them. I know I killed my remaining chicken egg today.

The water in the bowl dried out and I didn't see. The humidity was fine this morning when I left the house and very low when I came home this evening, and the thick blood vessels and activity I could see before are thin and dull now, and no activity.

Wah.

I'm 0 for 9 now.

 

[rebecca10782]

Quote:
Yep, today my mom found three hens sitting on top of our broody hen

They just lay their eggs on top of her

 

[Bec]

They will be fine as long as they are warm.. either under the mom or another source of heat. I had a momma hen leave the nest and her eggs were cold when I found them. She was off with the older babies and so I brought in the remaining eggs. One hatched the next day, I am expecting 4 this week. I candled last night and everyone is doing good in there!
I wouldn't worry too much, just keep checking to see if she is sitting on them or not. If she isn't , they are not doomed, you will just have to bring them in and find a way to keep them warm until they are ready!

 

[kuna-clucker]

UPDATE! Saturday Morning two babies, Sunday morning four babies, Sunday evening Momma introduced ten babies! When I gathered the rest of the eggs one had a dead baby, nine were completely undeveloped, one showed feathers through candling. I placed it in a small pan of warm water & it jiggled! I fired up the incubator & baby hatched out this evening (with a little help)! I have 11 new 3/4-barred rock, 1/4 araucanas! YIPPEE!!!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Congaratulations Kuna clucker. We are neighbors. I live out in the Star area! I am glad you had a good hatch!

 

[highcountrychickens]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!