? How long to wait before declaring the rest of the hatch a loss?

[chantald]

I have some eggs under my broody. I am pretty sure last night some started to hatch.. there were no babies yesterday but i heard peeping. This am, I had 1 chick and 3 pipping.. later this am I had 2 more chicks and one that had died hatching.. still in the egg (it was def dead). As of tonight, 3 healthy chicks are fluffed and under their mom, who is still setting on the rest of the eggs.. How much longer do I give them? I see no pipping.. ?? I hate to jump the gun..

 

[FenDruadin]

I would leave them there for now. The mother will decide when *she* is done with the hatch, and she will leave the nest. At that point, you can go in and take whatever remains and make a decision based on their state at that point. If some are still tapping and cheeping, you can move them to an incubator. Otherwise, you can dispose of them.

 

[pax12]

give them a day

 

[chantald]

still nothing happening with the rest of them.. will she know to get off the nest with the live chicks she has and get them food and water??

 

[beckychick]

It's my understanding the chicks won't need to eat for about three days because they're digesting the yolk still.

 

[FenDruadin]

beckychick is correct. I wouldn't worry unless it's been three days and she still hasn't taken them anywhere. She's waiting for those other chicks to arrive!

 

[chantald]

and I DO hope they arrive..

 

[chantald]

Still nothing.. They have been in the incubator since yesterday as she decided to leave the nest with the 3 chicks she has.. How many more days do I give them?

 

[FenDruadin]

How many days have they been incubating? Have you candled them? I would give them three to five days past their "due" date (21 days for most chickens--so that would mean waiting until day 24-26). If you candle them, you may be able to tell how they are--they should be all dark except an air cell if they're near to hatching.

 

[chantald]

I haven't candled them.. Their due date was 9/3