Help please!

[Tamara Noodle]

My broody hen has hatched six of her twelve eggs and this morning she left the eggs and took the six chicks outside. I’ve watched all morning and she has no interest in going back. I candled the eggs and four are very much alive, two have internally pipped. We can hear them cheeping in the eggs. I don’t have an incubator - I do have two broody Muscovy ducks sitting on their own eggs. I’m worried if I give the eggs to one of them it’ll cause them to abandon their own eggs as they still have two weeks left to sit. Do I have any chance they’ll hatch if I just leave them on the nest without mum or are my ducks my best option? Is there any benefit to me taking them in the house and keeping them warm? Thanks in advance.

 

[Aapomp831]

@MysteryChicken

 

[Aapomp831]

How long has it been? My gut instinct says to leave them, but I’m sure it depends on how long. They are fine with hour long periods of being alone while mama eats / drinks / poops... hopefully an expert will be along shortly to chime in

 

[Tamara Noodle]

How long has it been? My gut instinct says to leave them, but I’m sure it depends on how long. They are fine with hour long periods of being alone while mama eats / drinks / poops... hopefully an expert will be along shortly to chime in

Thanks for replying, it’s been about 6/7 hours now. It’s a really warm day here so they’re not freezing cold but I’m starting to get a bit twitchy. I encouraged her to take the chicks back in but no sooner were they all in she brought them all back out again!

 

[Aapomp831]

Thanks for replying, it’s been about 6/7 hours now. It’s a really warm day here so they’re not freezing cold but I’m starting to get a bit twitchy. I encouraged her to take the chicks back in but no sooner were they all in she brought them all back out again!

Maybe instinct is telling her it’s warm enough? I’ve never had this happen, but then again for a few of our broody hatched we weren’t home for hours, just came home to chicks so we do t know what happened in that time period. If mom doesn’t seem concerned it may be for a reason. I’ll summon some other experts

@aart
@Isaac 0

 

[MysteryChicken]

My broody hen has hatched six of her twelve eggs and this morning she left the eggs and took the six chicks outside. I’ve watched all morning and she has no interest in going back. I candled the eggs and four are very much alive, two have internally pipped. We can hear them cheeping in the eggs. I don’t have an incubator - I do have two broody Muscovy ducks sitting on their own eggs. I’m worried if I give the eggs to one of them it’ll cause them to abandon their own eggs as they still have two weeks left to sit. Do I have any chance they’ll hatch if I just leave them on the nest without mum or are my ducks my best option? Is there any benefit to me taking them in the house and keeping them warm? Thanks in advance.

This seems to be a tough situation.

Can you make a Brooder Incubator? Materials is a water source for humidity, heat lamp, & Hygrometers, & Thermometers to monitor conditions inside.

 

[Tamara Noodle]

This seems to be a tough situation.

Can you make a Brooder Incubator? Materials is a water source for humidity, heat lamp, & Hygrometers, & Thermometers to monitor conditions inside.

I have everything but the hygrometer, I think I’m going to give it a go. They’re day 23 so I expect they won’t be long if they’re going to hatch. We’ve never had this dilemma before, I usually just leave the ladies to it as they know what they’re doing and if one gives up I usually have other sitting for the same amount of time. The ducks started at the same time but obviously have a couple more weeks to go.
Thanks for the help!

 

[MysteryChicken]

I have everything but the hygrometer, I think I’m going to give it a go. They’re day 23 so I expect they won’t be long if they’re going to hatch. We’ve never had this dilemma before, I usually just leave the ladies to it as they know what they’re doing and if one gives up I usually have other sitting for the same amount of time. The ducks started at the same time but obviously have a couple more weeks to go.
Thanks for the help!

Bird mom's can be impatient.

You're welcome, be sure to update us?

 

[Tamara Noodle]

Bird mom's can be impatient.

You're welcome, be sure to update us?

These two fluffbutts hatched last night and have been reunited with mum and their siblings. Chickens clearly can’t count as she wasn’t the least concerned that she now has eight chicks not six!
Thanks for the advice, the last two eggs are still alive at the moment but neither have pipped yet, I’ll keep them in the makeshift incubator until it’s obvious nothing is going to happen...