Help - hen stopped laying on eggs that are ready to hatch

[the3quail]

I would put them under a heat lamp keeping it also humid.

 

[MysteryChicken]

We haven't candled them, but I will try wet paper towel in the container not touching the eggs and put them in something that has a lid.

Candling them will be really good thing to do at this point, it can help estimate how long they have left to go before they actually hatch. Do you have a good bright flashlight, or a flashlight on a cellphone?

 

[MAstrella]

I'm pretty sure from what I've read the damp towel should not be on them directly, because it will actually suck moisture out of them. Do you have some sort of box you can put them in with some sort of lid? You could put eggs in with a wet paper towel or towel, then put lid on and add heat lamp. Put air holes in lid.

I do not have a container yet but will run out shortly to grab one so we can cover it and put a damp towel or cup of water inside to keep the humidity up. I'll make sure there are air holes in it as well. Thank you.

 

[MAstrella]

OK I just purchased an incubator that has it all.
I have an egg that the chick just barely polked through, should I put that egg in the incubator?

 

[black_cat]

OK I just purchased an incubator that has it all.
I have an egg that the chick just barely polked through, should I put that egg in the incubator?

The real incubator? Probably yes. Make sure that it's at the right temperature and humidity, and put them all in there.

 

[CaliforniaPeeping]

I hatched lots of chicks using an incubator, seemed to work pretty well. Maybe try getting moisture to the eggs? I think the chicks might be dying because the air is dry. Try putting steam in the air.
Once the chicks are hatched, give them food and water immediately. They can stay in with the eggs, and the first ones will cheer the others on.

Can there be too much humidity? I have the exact same issue, broody hen quit sitting on the eggs. I had one hatch successfully yesterday but one of my hens killed it. This morning I had another egg externally pipped and I can see movement through the little crack. I brought it inside and made a makeshift hatchery with a heating pad and overturned Tupperware and some water I heated up so it would be steamy. Now I just want to make sure it can’t get too humid, or what too humid would look like.

 

[black_cat]

Can there be too much humidity? I have the exact same issue, broody hen quit sitting on the eggs. I had one hatch successfully yesterday but one of my hens killed it. This morning I had another egg externally pipped and I can see movement through the little crack. I brought it inside and made a makeshift hatchery with a heating pad and overturned Tupperware and some water I heated up so it would be steamy. Now I just want to make sure it can’t get too humid, or what too humid would look like.

I believe that you should make sure that your humidity is at what @MysteryChicken had mentioned earlier, using that measuring gadget that I forget the name of again. There is such a thing as too humid, but I think that it has to be measured and not seen.

 

[CaliforniaPeeping]

Well, I think my set up was too hot and I may have killed the poor little thing but I’m just leaving it alone now and waiting to see what happens.

 

[black_cat]

Well, I think my set up was too hot and I may have killed the poor little thing but I’m just leaving it alone now and waiting to see what happens.

When did you last candle it?

 

[CaliforniaPeeping]

I believe that you should make sure that your humidity is at what @MysteryChicken had mentioned earlier, using that measuring gadget that I forget the name of again. There is such a thing as too humid, but I think that it has to be measured and not seen.

Thanks, I hadn’t read that far before asking my question. I tried to candle the egg but don’t Actually know what I’m doing.