HELP!!!!! MAMA STOPPED

[junebuggena]

If you set all the eggs at once, then they all should have hatched (if viable) within 48 hours of each other. At this point, if momma is ready to get off the nest and take care of the hatched chicks, it's a pretty safe bet that the remaining eggs aren't viable, and probably won't hatch no matter what you do or don't do.

 

[LadyRed76]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/homemade-chicken-egg-incubator-designs-pictures.47737/
Home made incubators in a pinch.
Hope that helps!

 

[Thebossbaby]

thanks for all the help guys, last night when I got home I still only had 2, so this morning I did the water test. 1 egg sank and it had never even been fertile when I oppened it, aw, it smelled horrible. 3 were good, they floated, and 1 was about half way, so I cracked it open and there was a unformed baby chick, she died atleast 2 weeks ago, hardly even a body.

 

[bobbi-j]

Yep, mama hens usually know what they're doing. If all the eggs are set at the same time, all that are going to hatch usually do so within 24 hours or so. She knows...

 

[Thebossbaby]

yea, but how much longer is she gonna put up with this? before she gives up?

 

[bobbi-j]

yea, but how much longer is she gonna put up with this? before she gives up?

It sounds like she already gave up, and that's why she left the nest. That is nature. My belief is that God created chickens with a sense to know when her eggs are no longer going to hatch, so she will get off the nest when that times comes. (Some will call it evolution - I'm not going to have that debate. Believe what you wish.) Of course this works best if all the eggs are set at the same time. All bets are off if you have a staggered hatch since that messes with the natural process.

 

[Farmgirl47]

But I totally understand why you want to - if possible - save these eggs. Although if you don't have an incubator then it seems to me that there is a slim chance of survival for the chicks, if there are any still alive. How far are you willing to go? You can get an incubator at Tractor Supply if there is one near you.

 

[chickendreams24]

I think your first course of action needs to be candling them.

If you see a chick or internal pip and hear chirping or see veins I would suggest buying an incubator if you can afford one and can find one(farm and fleet and tractor supply carry them).

Or place them nestled in a heating pad with a thermometer if you can. The temp must remain between 99-100 degrees Fahrenheit. If they're internally pipped spritz gently with warm water or place a very warm damp paper towel underneath them between them and the heating pad. Change out the paper towel as needed.

They're really isn't much hope for them depending on the weather where you are and the amount of time Mom has been off the nest but there is a small chance.

 

[sawilliams]

Truth is even if you did have an incubator another 2-3 days won't guarantee any more will hatch and at that point they will likely be dead in the shell of they aren't already.

Mama hen got off the nest becuase there wasn't enough sign of hatching and she had to take her chicks to eat. Really would you rather mama stay on the to hatch one more chick when it could mean starving the 2 already hatched?

You don't have an incubator so either fugue out a setup or assume the eggs are already dead, that's up to you. But if you plan to hatch more it would be best to at least get a small incubator as back up just incase you have a hen in the future that decides to abandon a nest before the hatch date.