Help - no eggs hatched

[sunlitmoonlight]

Hi all, am new to chickens, about 10 months now. Live in Ireland. Little Twin (Silkie - 5 months old) started setting 25 days ago. Big Twin (Silkie - 5 months old) joined Little Twin in the nest 5 days after Little twin started setting. Two matured Bantams started laying their eggs under the twins (I was not aware of this until I saw them one day

). then about a week into the setting one of the matured Bantam hens started setting with the twins. Between the 3 of them, they came and went from the nest with one or two always covering the eggs. Today after 25 days, we removed the eggs to find all were rotten

. The twins are distraught clucking around looking for the eggs, the mature Bantam is not bothered at all. Any input on what could of gone wrong, or what I could have done to prevent this?
Forgot to add, the Rooster is a Pekin Bantam, also fairly young though not exactly sure how old.

 

[Mrs. K]

If they were leaving the nest, they could have gotten cold, and then warmed up again, if the other hens were still laying in the nest, some of the eggs get cold, and die, as there are too many to fully cover.

check the eggs you are eating, how many are fertilized? They have good pictures on this site if you are unsure how to tell.

Sometimes you just are not too lucky. Try again. MrsK

 

[vnploveschickens]

Could be your rooster is just a bit young yet.

A couple of years ago, I had a broody sitting on 9 eggs and none hatched. But last year, the hens successfully hatched and raised 4 cute little chicks.

So just give it some time. Next time, you might want to isolate your broody so that your other hens don't lay new eggs in her nest.

 

[sunlitmoonlight]

Thanks for replies

I think both comments may apply in this case. The Rooster is rather young, and the little twins are very young themselves. Have now made a seperate section in the house for when a hen sets again so can seperate her. Today when I opened their house, the twins came out with the flock, sand bathed, ate a little then went straight back into a nesting box. I left them there and tried to entice them out, eventually I took them out myself. They bathed a bit, ate a bit, ran around a bit but now are back in the nesting box. Do I leave them there or do I keep taking them out until they stay out and join up with the rest of the flock? Perhaps get a little chick to place under them? Thanks.

I forgot to mention that the flock are 100% free range.