Hi guys, this is my first post here and unfortunately not a very happy one.
I have a first time broody, a bluebell hen, we started with 12 eggs,, during the first week she took out 3 and the rest stayed. Today is the 21st day and yesterday I went to check on the eggs and found out 2 underdeveloped, but already feathered dead chicks under her, and also an egg without half of the hard shell. I took the dead birds out and left the others there but there is a pungent smell of death. My question is if because there were dead decomposing birds under her that might have killed the ones still to hatch. If so I may try o get some recently hatched chicks from someone close to me so that she will raise them. What do you think?
I have a first time broody, a bluebell hen, we started with 12 eggs,, during the first week she took out 3 and the rest stayed. Today is the 21st day and yesterday I went to check on the eggs and found out 2 underdeveloped, but already feathered dead chicks under her, and also an egg without half of the hard shell. I took the dead birds out and left the others there but there is a pungent smell of death. My question is if because there were dead decomposing birds under her that might have killed the ones still to hatch. If so I may try o get some recently hatched chicks from someone close to me so that she will raise them. What do you think?
Sorry for the circumstances. It is possible that the remaining eggs are not viable. If no chicks hatch within the next 24 hours, I would try to get some chicks to foster to the hen. Good luck.
