help me!!!

[newcomer1802]

We left to go on a trip and one of our hens went broody so when we returned we didnt have the heart to take her eggs but we didnt know she wasnt leaving her eggs and that she wasnt eating or drinking at all so the next morning she didn't make it we then rushed to buy a incubator but couldnt find one and it took is three days before they got heat again know on the 25th day weve only had one pip and you can't even see a beack we candeld and compared to some pictures they look like there about to hatch but they havent piped so I do not know what to do PLEASE HELP

 

[newcomer1802]

It would be amazing for some advice

 

[trailrider330]

First of all, Welcome to the BYC flock! We are glad you joined us!"

Secondly, I am sorry to hear about your situation. You may want to try posting here for advice on incubating and hatching: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/5/incubating-hatching-eggs. They would be able to give you the best advice.

 

[newcomer1802]

Thank you I will try that

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

I am so sorry about your broody. Some broodies just don't know how to take care of themselves or can become sick during the entire process.

Good that you candled however since the eggs did go cold at the end, you won't know how this is going to turn out until it is all over.

When a chick pips, (breaks through the shell to breath) it can sit like this for 24+ hours before zipping out of the egg. Right now he is breathing air while he absorbs the last of the egg yolk and detaching from the egg. So be patient.

However it is very important not to open the lid of the incubator at this time. Your humidity needs to be up around 70% inside the incubator at all times right now. Opening the lid will release the moisture and the chick will get stuck to the inside of the shell and die. So keep your humidity up and make sure your vents are wide open now. They need as much oxygen as possible.

So at this point, all you can do is wait this out. Good luck and I hope you get some to hatch!

 

[duluthralphie]

Welcome to

I think you may have over reacted to the broody not leaving her nest.

I have no idea what your coop/set-up is. I d not worry about mine when they set. I have never had them die of starvation or hunger while being broody. I had a turkey hen that sat 7 weeks (she lost eggs and I replaced them. She refused to break the broodiness. I think she left the nest maybe 5 times over the 7 weeks.

They go into a kind of trance when they brood. A person might think they will die, but the chances they will are slim.


I have found the earlier a chick hatches the healthier and stronger they are. If you have one Pip at 25 days the odds are against it I think. Lets hope it beats the odds,

 

[drumstick diva]

There are a lot of determined broodies that will not leave the nest to eat, drink or poo. They need to be put out 2 or 3 times a day for that purpose. Some do starve to death.

Poor girl, sorry she passed away

 

[duluthralphie]

There are a lot of determined broodies that will not leave the nest to eat, drink or poo. They need to be put out 2 or 3 times a day for that purpose. Some do starve to death.

Poor girl, sorry she passed away

I keep it available, BUT I also keep my broodies away from the flock, keeping water and feed very close to them. I really would not notice if they left the nest to eat, as I cannot wath them 100% of the time.

I would never remove mine form the nest 2-3 times a day for fear they would break broodiness. Some are determined others are barely broody.

IMHO..

Hope everyone is surviving the heat!

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[SnowPeeOstrichU]

Hi there

Another great tool is a broody breaker. It's a cage that has a perch and a chicken wire bottom and a food and a water. You put the broody hen in for a few days and she is forced to perch because the bottom is too cold to brood on. This breaks the instinct of wanting to sit on the eggs.

I also recommend putting a small food container and a small water near a broody hen if you want her to hatch so she doesn't have to stress out about running to go eat and drink while taking care of eggs because it is right there for her any time. Although mine often don't eat as much as normal, it helps with the risk of not enough food.

Hope this helps and I'm sorry about your hen.