- Apr 19, 2015
- 79
- 18
- 109
Hi all, I have scanned the forums and still don't know what to do. First timer broody hen has been sitting and I do not know for how long, because I am disorganized. We decided to let her do it and see what happens.
3 days ago, there was a very chirpy little chick and the other eggs were all unhatched. I moved her to a nesting box to secure her and the chick from the other hens.
2 days ago, one egg pipped. 1 day ago, I checked and a nickel sized portion of egg shell was gone and I could see a heart beating so I left it.
Today, came home and it was TOTAL HAVOC. The hen was clucking like a madwoman, stomping on the eggs, scratching at the food and hay, causing a total disturbance, and she had pooped all over the eggs. One had burst and was a bloody yellow mess in the hay, crushed. The other, the one that had been seeming to hatch, seemed dead. I checked it several times, then tried to open up some of the membrane, and it was definitely dead.
So, I cleaned out the nest of the poop and dead chick mess, replaced the hay, and put the remaining 3 eggs on top.
PROBLEM - Don't know how old those eggs are, don't know how to tell, and don't know they are ok, as those other 2 did not seem to be. Still have the live chick in the box with her and the 3 eggs.
HELP! What can or should I do? It was heartbreaking.
thank you so much
3 days ago, there was a very chirpy little chick and the other eggs were all unhatched. I moved her to a nesting box to secure her and the chick from the other hens.
2 days ago, one egg pipped. 1 day ago, I checked and a nickel sized portion of egg shell was gone and I could see a heart beating so I left it.
Today, came home and it was TOTAL HAVOC. The hen was clucking like a madwoman, stomping on the eggs, scratching at the food and hay, causing a total disturbance, and she had pooped all over the eggs. One had burst and was a bloody yellow mess in the hay, crushed. The other, the one that had been seeming to hatch, seemed dead. I checked it several times, then tried to open up some of the membrane, and it was definitely dead.
So, I cleaned out the nest of the poop and dead chick mess, replaced the hay, and put the remaining 3 eggs on top.
PROBLEM - Don't know how old those eggs are, don't know how to tell, and don't know they are ok, as those other 2 did not seem to be. Still have the live chick in the box with her and the 3 eggs.
HELP! What can or should I do? It was heartbreaking.
thank you so much
