HEN NO LONGER SITTING ON CLUTCH

[ChickenShenanigans]

I have a hen that was sitting on a clutch of eggs. They were all put in at the same time and she is in a nice separate area for her and the chicks. On day 20 (yesterday) two chicks had hatched and today there are four chicks. The problem is that there are seven eggs and she has abandoned the last three. I have an incubator but it only has room for one more egg right now. I could squeeze three in but should I? The eggs that are in the incubator are set to hatch on Sunday (Easter) so just two more days. Any advice would help.

 

[Prince and Pavo]

Hello! The mother hen may have sensed that they were no longer alive and that could be why she got off the nest. I would candle them and if they’re still alive put them in the incubator with the other eggs as long as none will crack by fitting them all in. Then when the three eggs hatch, you could put them with the mother hen and the other chicks, so that you have room for the other eggs to hatch on Easter. Good luck!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Partial agreement ... Do a sniff test with the remaining eggs & check for cracks and/or sweating. IMO IF today is 21days, the remainder may still be viable. Put these eggs in the incubator, remove when hatch & into the brooder to be raised with the ones that are scheduled to hatch Sunday/Easter. IF you want to attempt putting theme with the hen, do it at night when it's dark, wait a bit to see if hen reacts. Be up early the next morning to check on them. She "gave up" on the remaining egg cause she got little ones to tend to.

It's my opinion, a friend that incubates gives remaining eggs a week but watches them closely for sweating, smell or cracks.

 

[Lardson]

I have a hen that was sitting on a clutch of eggs. They were all put in at the same time and she is in a nice separate area for her and the chicks. On day 20 (yesterday) two chicks had hatched and today there are four chicks. The problem is that there are seven eggs and she has abandoned the last three. I have an incubator but it only has room for one more egg right now. I could squeeze three in but should I? The eggs that are in the incubator are set to hatch on Sunday (Easter) so just two more days. Any advice would help.

This is normal, sometimes they abandon the eggs if they think they wont hatch or they have enough babies. I have seen this many times before, what I usually do is bring them inside in a bucket or something with some hay and such in it and then set up a heat lamp. To hatch them you also need a bit of humidity. But like you said you do have an incubator, which may be easier. If they hatch leave them be to dry off for around 16 hours or so, and then show themto the mom, and if she accepts them, good for you. If not, youll be taking care of them until they are older.

 

[mcdze]

yeah id just stack em in there lol .. or remove the turner to free up space and just manually turn .

 

[ChickenShenanigans]

This is normal, sometimes they abandon the eggs if they think they wont hatch or they have enough babies. I have seen this many times before, what I usually do is bring them inside in a bucket or something with some hay and such in it and then set up a heat lamp. To hatch them you also need a bit of humidity. But like you said you do have an incubator, which may be easier. If they hatch leave them be to dry off for around 16 hours or so, and then show themto the mom, and if she accepts them, good for you. If not, youll be taking care of them until they are older.

Thank you sooo much!

 

[ChickenShenanigans]

yeah id just stack em in there lol .. or remove the turner to free up space and just manually turn .

That's what I did since they were all on lockdown and not turning anymore anyways. Thank you so much!

 

[Lardson]

Thank you sooo much!

No problem.