Help!! Had an egg explode/infected under mommy!

[mommyplusmore]

Hello,
I have been lurking and learning for about a year. One of my two year old hens got broody 23 days ago. I purchased 7 fertilized eggs to make her time more productive They have been cooking for almost 24 days now.

Well, we candled them at 9 days and darned if I could figure out what was what. Sooo, time goes by and one egg is missing? I figured she might've pushed it out and another hen ate it. Two days ago a terrible odor was in her box and I discovered a dead chick still in a partially opened shell and two remnant shells with terrible odor. I washed carefully washed her belly and cleaned the entire nest completely. Put new straw in there.

There are 4 more eggs that should be hatching now as she is on them. I'm candling them this afternoon. Is it hopeless?!?!?! I can't tell you how disappointing this is. My boys and I are really sad.

Please help us.
Thanks in advance,
Christine

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I wouldn't get my hopes up but I wouldn't give up ether. Give them a few more days.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

ugh thats the worst - i had that happen twice this summer. you'd think i'd learn! and how awful to find the dead chick
:-(

so in one case the hen ended up nuts and none of the chicks hatched. we just took the eggs and tried to reintegrate her with the flock. it took about 2 weeks and now she is fine.

with the other she remade a nest and took a couple eggs under her - and left the rest. just one chick hatched - and i have to say, she is my favorite little chicken ever. i call her Imp and she thinks i'm her 2nd mommy.

i'd just watch carefully and wouldnt go too far after the due date to remove them. you know the problem is that the ick from the bad egg can infect the others.

good luck and remember that my little Imp made it... let us know what happens!