Help! What do I do?

[sepaditty1]

My broody hen has chicks due to hatch today or tomorrow. Her nest is down between 2 stumps. This morning my whole yard is flooded, including the chicken pen. Her nest isn't totally under water, but it's very wet in there. I'm afraid the chicks might drown once they pip.

Am I just being a nervous Nellie? Should I bring the eggs in & put them in the incubator? Does Mama know best & I should leave it alone?

It is still raining outside, so there is the possibility that the nest will flood more.

Advice?

 

[cubalaya]

I have moved hen and eggs and the hens still hatched them

 

[sepaditty1]

That is assuring. Was it this close to hatch day? That scares me.

 

[sepaditty1]

Ok, I went out and Fattie was off her nest. I checked it and the eggs were under about 2 inches of water. I grabbed them and put them with Mama in a pet carrier.

An hour later, she wasn't sitting on the eggs. Just standing in the corner of the box. I picked up the eggs & put them in my incubator.

I candled. All eggs were full. I didn't see any internal pips, but to be honest, I 'm not sure I would recognize it if they did. So...they gto pretty cold, but I don't think they would have drowned.

Is there any hope for these babies?

 

[lazy gardener]

Time will tell.

 

[sepaditty1]

Yeah. Like I said, they're due to hatch over the weekend. We'll see. I guess I should give mama something else to sit on so that if these do hatch, I can still put the chicks under her.