Help! Hen abandoned hatching chicks!

[Tiffany7724]

I have a hen that has been sitting on a nest of eggs at different stages in their development. Two chicks have hatched and there are three pipping. She has abandoned nest and is off with the two chicks. She actually completely buried and scratched the eggs out of the way while she tended the two. I dug them out and cleaned them off. The openings that the unhatched chicks made were absolutely crammed full of shavings and chicken crumble. She's been off the nest all day with no interest in sitting back down so I took all three in and put them under a heat lamp wrapped in a damp paper towel. One baby hatched and is happy but the other two look like they are still a ways off. I do not have an incubator...what's my best bet for getting these other two to hatch?

 

[WalnutHill]

Without an incubator, it sounds like you are doing the best you can. If you can borrow an incubator or find someone locally who would be willing to take in your eggs for hatching, so much the better.

99-100 degrees and some moisture but not too much is what you need.

 

[bobbi-j]

It does sound like you're making the best of the situation. Unfortunately, this can be common when a hen is setting on eggs that aren't all set at the same time. She figured that the two she had were all that were going to hatch since the others didn't hatch with them. Keep us posted on how they're doing!

 

[Tiffany7724]

Update: all three hatched! Didn't have a thermometer so I kept temperature as consistent as I could with a damp paper towel. once I saw their little membranes didn't have full veins I helped them a little bit and they kicked right out! Phew! Now I can relax and tuck them in with momma in the morning! I already returned the first chick that hatched when she nested down earlier in the evening and she gladly accepted

 

[WVduckchick]

Love a happy ending! Great job!

 

[Veggie4life55]

I to have a broody who has been hatching eggs for about 4 days... maybe 5... its chilly here outside the last few days.. She has decided even though there is one with a pip hole but no unzipping, to leave the next with her 5 chicks. I also found one chick still in half an egg bled out and crushed yesterday. He still had a small bit of yolk to still absurd... anyways

Im unsure of what to do, There are 8 eggs left but only one piping... This one had a hole pipped at 6:30pm last night. I checked this morning and she sat on the nest all night but later when I went back to check she was up eating. I just put her and her chicks back and last time I checked she was sitting on them.. But yesterday she was doing the same thing.. I would go out 30 minutes later and she wouldn't be on the nest and the eggs would be cold.. But the chick is alive and moving around...

Its been about 30 minutes since I checked last just checked again and she is laying on her nest still so..

what should I do? when do i know I need to take the egg? how cold can he get now that he is hatching and still be ok? it is 59F but was in the upper 40s all night...

 

[WVduckchick]

That second one looks like the membrane is drying out inside there. If she doesn't get some body humidity to it, its not going to be able to make it out. Obviously the hens are the best at this, but if she keeps leaving them, I don't think they will make it. If you really want the babies to survive, I think I'd bring them inside. Can you at least get a wet q-tip and gently dampen that membrane? If the veins have receded, it should be ready to break out of there, if the membrane hasn't dried to it too much. (WV here too! We sure have had a couple chilly days/nights! Back to warm today though, I think!)

 

[Veggie4life55]

I brought the chick in right after I sent the first message.. She had left him again .. The membrane was why I took a pic at that angle i was hoping someone would mention it.. I have been wetting the membrane down since I brought him in though... Thats what i have been worried about since yesterday .. now that he has warmed up some the chick is moving around in the egg well and keeps having small bursts of energy and starts peeping..

He sounds healthy and im hoping that isn't misleading cause we have never really hatched chicks... We had two hatch a long time ago.. But never had to bring any into hatch... Hoping for the best..

I don't think any of the rest of her eggs will hatch... The 1st chick hatched May 30th, 2nd 3rd and 4th on the 31st, 5th hatched on the 1st... and then I found the one dead yesterday... Should I water test the other eggs? Do u think they could still be viable since this one is just hatching?

 

[Veggie4life55]

I keep chipping away at the shell... and then I wait a little while and go back and chip some more... I haven't seen any blood... or blood vessels... But I am so nervous about hurting him... So I have been trying to leave it to him..

 

[WVduckchick]

I would definitely candle the rest of the eggs. Flashlight first, then water candle if no obvious movement.

The one that is already open needs some heat and humidity. You can try putting it in a baking dish with some warm sponges, with a heat lamp. Cover it with loose saran wrap, with some holes torn in it. NOT sealed up tight. Enough to keep some moisture in, but not enough to condensate. Talk to it, sing to it! Tell him to come on out!

Not seeing any blood is good! That means its about ready to come out!