Help!

[ag8chick]

I have a mama who is sitting on eggs in big coop. I have successfully let one mama hen hatch out babies within the last couple years. This is a younger hen, and she has hatched out a few and they did not make it. My question is, I have some that have Pipped.. and I see movement. Do I just kept a closer eye on them, or can I move them inside under a lamp? No incubator. I just want to do what is the best for survival.

 

[Anon112]

You mean from her current clutch a few have already hatched and died?

 

[BantyChooks]

I have a mama who is sitting on eggs in big coop. I have successfully let one mama hen hatch out babies within the last couple years. This is a younger hen, and she has hatched out a few and they did not make it. My question is, I have some that have Pipped.. and I see movement. Do I just kept a closer eye on them, or can I move them inside under a lamp? No incubator. I just want to do what is the best for survival.

If you don’t have an incubator, their best chance is likely under mother hen - a lamp will not maintain humidity requirements very well which may compromise their chances. Did the chicks die with this batch or a previous one? Did she peck them or did something else happen? Keep checking them frequently, and after they have hatched, remove them if she shows signs of aggression or neglect and put them in a brooder.

Be careful not to bother her too much to check on them, and I would strongly advise against assisting.

 

[Anon112]

If you don’t have an incubator, their best chance is likely under mother hen - a lamp will not maintain humidity requirements very well which may compromise their chances. Did the chicks die with this batch or a previous one? Did she peck them or did something else happen? Keep checking them frequently, and after they have hatched, remove them if she shows signs of aggression or neglect and put them in a brooder.

Be careful not to bother her too much to check on them, and I would strongly advise against assisting.

While my broody experience is limited, I really agree with this post. The first chick that my broody hatched died and I initially wanted to "help." Instead I let her do her thing and she hatched out several great chicks.

My general broody experience (now three of them) is that the less I help, the better the outcome. And especially if you don't have an incubator.

 

[Ridgerunner]

This is a younger hen, and she has hatched out a few and they did not make it.

Can you tell us what happened? Why did they not make it? Were the chicks that did not make it form this hatch? It helps to have some details when answering this kind of question.

My question is, I have some that have Pipped.. and I see movement. Do I just kept a closer eye on them, or can I move them inside under a lamp? No incubator. I just want to do what is the best for survival.

Without having a very definite reason to take the eggs or chicks I'd think your best chances for success is to let the hen take care of things. Try not to disturb her but keep an eye on how it is going. Most hens do things correctly by instinct, much better than we can. But occasionally you get a hen that does not have the right instincts so you need to intervene. But without an incubator it is challenging to hatch them yourself.

 

[ag8chick]

The ones that did not make it were from a previous hatch. We were camping and I was not around to actually see what happened. When we made it back, there was 3 on the ground and one in the laying box with mama. But not Alive. They did seem to look “normal” for baby chicks. I’m not sure if she just didn’t protect them from other chickens or they got too cold? I don’t know. But I will keep a closer eye on them this time. To figure out. She has 6 under her and two just started hatching today and I see movement and hear them. So they are definitely still alive. I just wanted to make sure they have the best chance this time. As me and my 6 year old don’t want to lose these too!

 

[ag8chick]

So two of the babies didn’t make it. They were still in the egg somewhat and one only had the layer of the inside on it a little.. Is it possible she is trying to help them get out and that’s what is killing them? They were still underneath her. I’m really not sure what is going on. Could another chicken be getting to them under her? Is it possible for a chicken to be smothered? I really don’t know so just looking for help.

 

[Anon112]

So two of the babies didn’t make it. They were still in the egg somewhat and one only had the layer of the inside on it a little.. Is it possible she is trying to help them get out and that’s what is killing them? They were still underneath her. I’m really not sure what is going on. Could another chicken be getting to them under her? Is it possible for a chicken to be smothered? I really don’t know so just looking for help.

Are there live chicks under her right now?

One of my hens had a dead chick under her when I returned home one day, and I did get the impression it might have been squished between the eggs and the mom. Hard to know, though.

 

[Debbie292d]

So two of the babies didn’t make it. They were still in the egg somewhat and one only had the layer of the inside on it a little.. Is it possible she is trying to help them get out and that’s what is killing them? They were still underneath her. I’m really not sure what is going on. Could another chicken be getting to them under her? Is it possible for a chicken to be smothered? I really don’t know so just looking for help.

I'm so sorry!

She wouldn't be helping them get out, and another hen going under a hen with hatching eggs, I've never heard of, but can't rule out it hasn't happened. It's really hard to know why these didn't finish hatching. Perhaps she got off them unbeknownst to you for several hours?

 

[Emu-mama]

So two of the babies didn’t make it. They were still in the egg somewhat and one only had the layer of the inside on it a little.. Is it possible she is trying to help them get out and that’s what is killing them? They were still underneath her. I’m really not sure what is going on. Could another chicken be getting to them under her? Is it possible for a chicken to be smothered? I really don’t know so just looking for help.

I'm so sorry! It's always sad when you loose chicks.

Its hard to tell what could have happened, but sometimes there's no apparent reason at all. At least in my experience.

There is a chance that she could be pecking at them not realizing that they're her babies. That happened to me with one of my
first-time-broodies.

I hope all the others all hatch well!