Hen pecked a hole, hatch date is two days away

[R1GG5]

I've had a broody Black Australorp for months, so yesterday we picked up 3 fertile eggs that are due to hatch this Sunday, June 29.

While broody was taking a food break (she has fully accepted these eggs and has been very nurturing), another hen went into the next and pecked at two of the eggs. In one egg, she pecked a small crack, but the membrane is intact. The other egg she pecked a small hole (1/8" diameter) exactly where the beak of the chick is. I quickly read for tips online and read that I should tape the cracked areas and place them under the broody hen again, which we have done.

I taped over the hole and also over the crack on the other egg.

We removed the hen that pecked the eggs from the environment so that this will not occur again.

What are the odds that both will survive? Is there any special treatment we should be doing at this point? Any other tips you can recommend?

Thanks very much!!

 

[R1GG5]

Reading about humidity, in case this matters, we live in San Diego. Humidity today is 60%. Not sure if that makes any difference, but if it helps…

 

[Ridgerunner]

At this stage you've done about all you can. Another option would have been to cover the hole or crack with wax but if the hole is very large that might not work.

What are the odds? Probably fairly decent this late in the game. Good luck!

 

[Sheltiegal02]

I heard you could put plan, melted, candle wax over the egg if cracked. Hoped this helped!

 

[AmericanMom]

if you taped over where the beak is I would be concerned about that, but like was already stated, you have done what you can..

.good luck!!


I have a my last broody on the homestretch, she was insistent on hatching in the main coop so we have let her, not the most dominant hen but she has been such a bear she is left alone.. Hatch day is supposed to be Sunday

 

[R1GG5]

I'm equally concerned about the taped egg where the beak is. I didn't know what else I could possibly do to try to keep the chick alive, so we're just crossing our fingers on that.

We plan to keep a close eye on everything from now through Hatch Day, and may at least peel part of the tape back so the chick can go through the normal struggle of hatching by herself without the interference there. I know it's vital for each chick to find their own way out of their eggshell, so we won't do more than at least remove part of the tape so it will have a fighting chance - that's assuming that the bird survives in the first place.

The other egg should be ok, barring any missteps from broody mama - hopefully she doesn't somehow crush this already weak egg.

---

On another note, the offending hen.

I've isolated her from the flock today… first instinct is to find her a new home, as she is not laying much, and she has a really dirty looking vent area (not sure what that's about). She's a real nice Cream Legbar, but she and the other Cream Legbar are virtually not laying at all at this stage. Our little flock of six hens is managing to lay only 2 eggs a day on average right now, so something is clearly not right here.

They are around 14-15 months old - could they be molting? Do they stop laying during that timeframe?

We've got two Cream Legbars from different breeders (blue eggs), two Barred Rocks, a Red Sexlink, and this broody Black Australorp. Only 2 eggs a day on average right now from this lot.

Another thing we discovered is we have a rat that has started to pay attention to the birds. My wife saw the rat inside the chicken house this morning, and I aim to kill it at the first chance I get. Would hens stop laying with a threat like this in their presence? We close up the hen house at night (and yes, it's impervious to entry by ANYTHING aside from flies or bugs when it's shut up). Anyway, curious if the mere presence of a predator will cause hens to stop laying.

Super stressful day today. Bummed about the recent setbacks and problems.

For those of you who answered or weighed in - THANK YOU. It's reassuring to read what others think. We hope these chicks make it!

 

[R1GG5]

I just checked on the eggs while broody mama was getting some food. The taped area on the worse egg has tiny little peck marks coming from the chick inside it. Worried, I pulled some of the tape away so that if the bird is actually trying to hatch, that it stands a better chance of pecked out from that area. I think during mama's next break, we'll candle the area instead, but the hole is possibly to big.

Can someone with experience in this area provide any further insight? Can the chick survive 24-48 hours before hatch time if there is a full breech in the egg? When this was first discovered, I could see the chick's beak moving slightly outside of the broken area of the shell (we're talking like 1/2 a millimeter here).

If anyone can talk me through best practices here, we'd appreciate it.

 

[AmericanMom]

I just checked on the eggs while broody mama was getting some food. The taped area on the worse egg has tiny little peck marks coming from the chick inside it. Worried, I pulled some of the tape away so that if the bird is actually trying to hatch, that it stands a better chance of pecked out from that area. I think during mama's next break, we'll candle the area instead, but the hole is possibly to big.

Can someone with experience in this area provide any further insight? Can the chick survive 24-48 hours before hatch time if there is a full breech in the egg? When this was first discovered, I could see the chick's beak moving slightly outside of the broken area of the shell (we're talking like 1/2 a millimeter here).

If anyone can talk me through best practices here, we'd appreciate it.

Went out to gather eggs and 3/5 have hatched under the broody! Bout shocked the crud outta me, I usually just walk past her to the other nesting boxes, I had to do a double take, I'll get a pic up in a sec.. Yours with the tape over the hole may very well been trying to hatch itself! good move taking the tape off..

 

[AmericanMom]

Momma and chicks...2 days early!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Any update Riggs? How did they do?