Hi, I had 2 broody hens sitting on a nest together with 14 eggs. The eggs started hatching 2 days earlier then expected and so far 13 eggs have pipped, 9 have got out and are gorgeous, 3 more that pipped have died and I don't know why and now one is left that had pipped last night, it is still alive but hasn't got any further. Do I help? I don't want another one to die.
Other information:
Both hens left the nest with the few eggs that had hatched leaving the rest of the eggs uncovered, it was a hot, humid day (32).
I put both mums and babies back in nesting box and checked rest of eggs (this is when I saw which ones has pipped).
Then when I came back later the mums had hopped off again, 3 had died.
So Since this I took one mum out with the hatched chicks and left the the other mum on nest.
She has stayed on the 2 eggs that are left, but the last chick has not got any further along. Other egg no signs of pipping.
Other information:
Both hens left the nest with the few eggs that had hatched leaving the rest of the eggs uncovered, it was a hot, humid day (32).
I put both mums and babies back in nesting box and checked rest of eggs (this is when I saw which ones has pipped).
Then when I came back later the mums had hopped off again, 3 had died.
So Since this I took one mum out with the hatched chicks and left the the other mum on nest.
She has stayed on the 2 eggs that are left, but the last chick has not got any further along. Other egg no signs of pipping.
