HELP! hen sitting on only egg? What do you think? This one is a little complicated

[Wjeffgriggs]

I think I might have kept the new chick inside until the egg hatches, since you were still seeing movement in the egg.

Has the air cell drawn down?

Yes air cell is text book example perfect. So you think putting the chick in will disrupt the egg?

 

[WVduckchick]

Yes air cell is text book example perfect. So you think putting the chick in will disrupt the egg?

I don’t think it will bother the egg, but if it still has a few days before it hatches, and since the broody has already been sitting for a while, she may abandon the egg to care for the chick.
Broodies are somewhat unpredictable, sometimes you just have to try things and see how it goes. Hopefully things work out for the best.

If she does abandon the egg, at least she will have a chick after all her hard work.

 

[Wjeffgriggs]

I don’t think it will bother the egg, but if it still has a few days before it hatches, and since the broody has already been sitting for a while, she may abandon the egg to care for the chick.
Broodies are somewhat unpredictable, sometimes you just have to try things and see how it goes. Hopefully things work out for the best.

If she does abandon the egg, at least she will have a chick after all her hard work.

Thats right on with what i was thinking. Now she is good. 1 egg thats already super delayed is a big chance. If she leaves it ill just pop it in the incubator

 

[Wjeffgriggs]

So here is somerhing crazy. Introduced the chick last night she loves it. That same night I also put one under my broody cochin that has been sitting on unfertile eggs for weeks.
When i checked the one i gave to the cochin she had kicked it out it was cold and looked dead. When picked it up it barely opened its eyes and was breathing very slow. Hit it with a hair dryer, set it under a heat lamp and was 100% after an hour. I gave it to the bantam inside, during light and she gladly took this one also.

She still continues to sit on the egg. If I place it in front of her she pushes it back under her.

I candled the egg again. Air cell is like 1/2 the egg. Looks like some mass is somewhat in the air cell its shadows. Still movement but no peeping sounds. This egg is crazy to me.

If a pic will help ill try to get one

 

[WVduckchick]

The saying with a chick is “it’s not dead till it’s warm and dead”. I’ve revived a few that were cold and seemed gone. They slow their breathing when they get cold, so many times they can survive when warmed back up. Glad you caught it in time!

Hard to tell about the egg. I’d just keep waiting and hoping. Or consider putting it under the other broody, and let the one have the 2 chicks??

 

[Wjeffgriggs]

Egg update. Candled last night at 11pm and movement was minimum with only a small section of rapid rythmic like heart or breathing. No sign of internal pip. I felt this was bad. Checked noon today and it was moving no more.

I like to open my eggs when they fail to hatch to see what happend. What I expected it was malpositioned and fully formed. My guess couldnt reach the air cell to pip internally whichit ran short of air, what I saw last night. Should have just cracked it open, my gut was telling me to. But the hen is super happy with her 2 adopted chicks and started to wonder around with them a few hours ago, not staying planted so much.

 

[WVduckchick]

Egg update. Candled last night at 11pm and movement was minimum with only a small section of rapid rythmic like heart or breathing. No sign of internal pip. I felt this was bad. Checked noon today and it was moving no more.

I like to open my eggs when they fail to hatch to see what happend. What I expected it was malpositioned and fully formed. My guess couldnt reach the air cell to pip internally whichit ran short of air, what I saw last night. Should have just cracked it open, my gut was telling me to. But the hen is super happy with her 2 adopted chicks and started to wonder around with them a few hours ago, not staying planted so much.

Bummer about the egg. Glad you were proactive with chicks. Momma will be happy.

Post some pics when you get a chance.

 

[Wjeffgriggs]

Bummer about the egg. Glad you were proactive with chicks. Momma will be happy.

Post some pics when you get a chance.