****Help???how long can an egg peep? first broody on eggs

[chickenlisa]

no more babies yet-still at least one is peeping. How long can peeping in the egg go on without pipping and hatching? The only chick hatched Thursday (?) and this is Sunday evening and I still haven't seen any other chicks, but hear peeping as soon as this chick comes out from under Mama hen.Does this sound weird or what?
I am still leaving her alone, but really want to pick her up an find that peeping egg and help it pip the shell at least. I couldn't find a flashlight strong enough to candle these eggs earlier on.... they are all green eggs.

I really hope at least a few of the remaining 16 eggs hatch. I had no idea so many were under her until she got up yesterday to poop (ugh-what a mess that was!) and I counted really fast 16 eggs.
Just hangin' out waiting for something to happen...
Lisa

 

[chickenlisa]

Please read my last post... is it strange for me to hear peeping still 4 days after the first chick hatched and no others have shown up yet? How long can the chick peep in the egg before hatching out? Maybe this is a different one each day? I do'nt know but I do know I"ve heard peeping from under her since Thursday at noon and it quiets every time the baby goes back under her. So soon as she pops out, then I hear the peeping again. As of Saturday when I caught her off thenest, there were only eggs under her-no other chicks. If some had hatched since then, wouldn't I see them out by now?
I have lots of questions I know. Its our first time for all of this. Should I pick her up and look under, and if I see an egg with pip marks, should I take it out and help it? I do not want a chick to die in the egg at this point if its peeping so much.

I need expert advice and any past experiences you have with something like this.
Thanks-Lisa

 

[chickenlisa]

Updated post-we left on our vacation and 1 other baby hatched a week later, but the mama hen pecked it to death my son said. By the time he saw it was hatched, it was deaad already. Then a few days later, 2 other chicks hathed. They were fine over night. She protected them and they were dry and fluffy, but in the morning, 1 was dead and the other one was almost dead. He took that one out and gave it sugar water, but it died too. SO he took all her eggs out and tried to hatch them, but they stopped all sounds and activity over night. So we have learned alot the hard way this year. We have 1 chick to show for it and it looks like it may be a roo. Bummer. But I do know now to take all the eggs and give them to the broody hen all at the same time next year. I have a bunch of young ones who are the type who may go broody on me, so I'll keep my fingers crossed. We got back last night, and that baby is so big already. I have to let them out to mingle, so I hope the other 2 old hens "take it easy" on it.
Lisa

 

[JudyMcKinn]

Just read this thread, and wanted to toss in the thought that you don't need to be afraid of the hen. they can't peck THAT hard, and you can put on a pair of gloves, if you would feel better/safer. It would be better, and easier for both you and the hen if you just lifted her out of the way with your hands, instead of a rake handle, or similiar.