Hen Hatched 5, ten eggs left HELP!

[DementedHam]

ok so my friend's hen hid 15 eggs and incubated them. on the 18 [wed] 5 hatched but now she walks around with the 5 and doesnt really sit on the nest. what can my friend do? she is devastated that the other chickies are going to die since she doesn't stay on her nest. any advice? thanks

 

[alex]

you can incubate the rest.
-alex

 

[justusnak]

I would candle the others, Might be they are no good. If they are...and its so close to hatching....you can incubate them. If you dont have an incubator...put them in a cardboard box...with a heat light on them..keep them warm, and draft free. Good luck

 

[jimnjay]

If she does try to finish the incubation, it is a good idea to place the eggs on a damp cloth it make sure there is enough humidity. I finished some duck eggs that way in the past. I just hung a clamp on light with the reflector over the eggs, I used an outdoor thermometer and the damp cloth. It took two day and they hatch fine.

Your firends hen may not have been the only one laying in that spot so there could be a staggered hatch going one. That is why the hen left. She can't raise her babies and hatch more eggs at the same time.