- Jan 9, 2012
- 25
- 5
- 26
I am just sick to my stomach.
We have had our broody BO setting on a clutch that is set to hatch on Tuesday & Wednesday. A few days ago, the BO had taken up residence in an empty nestbox next door to her eggs and her eggs were cold to the touch. I thought it was a lost cause at that point, but since we're only a few days out, I figured I leave them and see if they still hatch. Fast forward to this morning - again, she's sitting in the empty nextbox next door and several of her eggs had been pecked open. ugh! One is pecked open larger than the size of a pencil eraser, a couple have beak punctures. But! The egg with the largest peck hole I can see the chick moving/breathing rhythmically. There is some blood around the outside of the peck holes and there is yolk smeared all over another egg which hasn't been pecked.
I stapled a separator wall in the coop to keep the other hens away, but now mama can't go outside. I guess I should have done this awhile ago. Live & learn, I guess.
I don't want the chicks to suffer, but I don't want to kill them if they might hatch ok.
HELP! WHAT do I do???
We have had our broody BO setting on a clutch that is set to hatch on Tuesday & Wednesday. A few days ago, the BO had taken up residence in an empty nestbox next door to her eggs and her eggs were cold to the touch. I thought it was a lost cause at that point, but since we're only a few days out, I figured I leave them and see if they still hatch. Fast forward to this morning - again, she's sitting in the empty nextbox next door and several of her eggs had been pecked open. ugh! One is pecked open larger than the size of a pencil eraser, a couple have beak punctures. But! The egg with the largest peck hole I can see the chick moving/breathing rhythmically. There is some blood around the outside of the peck holes and there is yolk smeared all over another egg which hasn't been pecked.
I stapled a separator wall in the coop to keep the other hens away, but now mama can't go outside. I guess I should have done this awhile ago. Live & learn, I guess.
I don't want the chicks to suffer, but I don't want to kill them if they might hatch ok.
HELP! WHAT do I do???
