Help with my new chicks - advice needed!

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

It's her first! I've had to tempt her off before she had eggs and was broody as she'd refuse to eat or drink!

I suspected that might be the case. I wouldn't worry about her not eating or drinking... I've never heard of a single case where a broody starved herself to death or died of dehydration. That hypnotic state they're in slows their metabolism down so much, they require very little food or water. That's also the reason why they don't poop as much during this time. The only energy they're burning during this time is to create heat. Resist the urge to tempt her (or them) with treats, just keep their normal food and water close by. When they feel the need to eat and drink, they'll do so. Leave them be and let them do what they've been doing for thousands of generations. They'll be just fine. The only time you should intervene is when a hen abandons the nest...

This concludes the tip of the day...

 

[silkiemumma]

Well two chicks hatched, she's abandoned the other two eggs now and moved nest box with the babies. I've tried to place the eggs back under her but she kicks them out..... so I've stuck them in wet sand under a brooder lamp and hoping that might help...

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Can you feel them moving around in the egg? Do you hear peeping? Have you candled them?

 

[silkiemumma]

Can you feel them moving around in the egg? Do you hear peeping? Have you candled them?

When I picked them up they were cold but I could feel one of them move, the other one was further behind when I candelled them last as was laid a lot later, can't feel much from that one.
No peeping.
I've left them under the heater and when I get home I'll candle them both again just to check. I'm very sad!

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

If one was still moving, there is still a chance. I once had half a nest destroyed. Momma flew the nest, and it was about an hour before I could get them on the incubator. In three days, all three hatched.

 

[silkiemumma]

This gives me hope!!
They're also in the conservatory which is super humid at the moment because of the summer and I've covered the cage with a thick blanket to keep it as humid as possible. The heater is adjustable so I've put it down as low to the eggs as possible too. Ahhhh I'm so stressed! She was just not interested this morning at all, she took her chicks and was off!

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

Well two chicks hatched, she's abandoned the other two eggs now and moved nest box with the babies. I've tried to place the eggs back under her but she kicks them out..... so I've stuck them in wet sand under a brooder lamp and hoping that might help...

Once a broody decides it's time to be a mother to her chicks, she will have nothing to do with the remaining eggs. It may be saddening, but it's nature's way to ensure the survival of those already hatched. Any that don't hatch within a 2 day period will be abandoned. She's aware that the newly hatched chicks have resources for 2, possibly 3 days before they have to have food and water. If you can save an egg or two afterwards, more power to you. Losing chicks is something you'll have to get used to. If the chick still in the egg survives to hatch time (???), you'll probably have to help it out of the shell. Once the egg is exposed to open air, especially in the final 3 days, it loses moisture very quickly. The inner membrane shrinks around the chick, preventing it from being able to turn into the hatching position. Even if it can pip, it may not be able to zip due to being stuck. This is most likely the scenario you'll be facing when it's hatch time. Hopefully it will give an external pip to let you know it'sgetting close. If nothing happens after 24 hours of pipping, an assisted hatch will be necessary.

 

[silkiemumma]

Woke up this morning and the eggs were cold but the heater was on. So decided to just open them up and see what had happened. One was completely rotten and expired, no chick at all even though I thought I saw one when I candelled it?! And one had died before it had full grown
So just got Oreo & Gary!

 

[jeria]

Cuties. Sorry about the eggs, guess that some aren't meant to be. Mama probably knew and left them.

 

[silkiemumma]

Cuties. Sorry about the eggs, guess that some aren't meant to be. Mama probably knew and left them.

I had 6 eggs to begin with so it's sad to only get 2 chicks. One was completely unfertile at candelling & one hatched and I think a rat must of got in and snatched it as all was left was half a shell !
They're all pretty happy, I've had to move them indoors as my other chickens have taken to kicking the chicks out the nest when they wanna get in haha! So we're all indoors and hanging out I didn't wanna seperate mum from them so decided I'd rather reintroduce her and the babies when they're ready.