How much egg neglect is OK?

[MIChickandGuinea]

My year-old Marans has gone completely broody, and we tried a few things to break her, but she was stubborn. So we got some possibly fertile eggs from a nearby farm, marked them, and gave them to her. She was thrilled and has spent MOST of the last 3 weeks sitting on them. But she's not smart, and she has left the nest to eat/drink several times and then returned to the wrong nest compartment. Several times I have come home from being away all day, and found her eggs untended, cool to touch, and her sitting happily in the wrong booth. I have always given the eggs back to her, but I think I've read that getting cooled off prevents the eggs from being able to ever hatch? I've been assuming they won't hatch.

BUT!! I candled them the other day, just out of curiosity, and two were clearly quite empty. Two were absolutely packed full, with visible chick parts, and an air space at the end. I was very surprised to see so much development, so now I'm wondering if Miss Chicken actually does know well enough how to do her job, and the level of neglect she's shown is within tolerances?? Might we see chicks after all? First potential hatch day is tomorrow.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

Can you separate her and the eggs so she’s unable to sit on another nest?

 

[MIChickandGuinea]

Can you separate her and the eggs so she’s unable to sit on another nest?

I can. I even have another entire empty small coop with an attached pen that she could be in ... I just didn't know enough about broody hens to know that I should have separated her. And I think that the day before anticipated hatch may be too late for these eggs. Should I get a new batch of eggs for her and separate her right away?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Cool on the outside doesn't always mean cool in the middle. And even unhatched chicks can take a bit of chilling. I'd have quite a bit of hope.

Good luck.

 

[sourland]

At this point in the game, I would not risk moving her. Eggs should hatch, but may take a bit longer than 21 days. If this clutch fails, I would not set another round of eggs. Brooding can be very debilitating, and she may stop or even die.

 

[Mrs. K]

NO, don't change anything at this time! I am betting you will get a couple of eggs to hatch if you leave them and her alone.

In the very beginning, it takes nearly 24 hours of temperature of 99 degrees to start the egg. Up until then the egg is just dormant in a state of suspension. However, once the chick begins to develop, they too produce heat. So cool on the outside is not a problem. Obviously days of no added heat would kill them, but not several hours.

Years ago, I had one go broody late in the fall. Very chilly out, around 30 degrees, wrong nest, cool to the touch, and I was going to throw them, but came on here and was told to let them be. Get her back on the right nest and wait.

I hatched out 4 chicks. So wait a couple of more days. At this stage of the game, I would not move her or bother her unless she gets on the wrong nest again, and then just put her back.

Mrs K

 

[Mrs. K]

oh and mine hatched right on schedule... so within a couple days you should know.

 

[MIChickandGuinea]

At this point in the game, I would not risk moving her. Eggs should hatch, but may take a bit longer than 21 days. If this clutch fails, I would not set another round of eggs. Brooding can be very debilitating, and she may stop or even die.

Die?! Oh, dear. I had no idea. So if these don’t hatch in a week or so, and she continues to act broody, it’ll be really important to break her, right? Ugh. All the methods for breaking a broody sound pretty uncomfortable for the little lady - but I guess better than dying!

 

[sourland]

Keep an eye on her - checking her weight and making sure that she is eating and drinking. Also check the nest to make sure that it and the hen do not become infested with mites - she should be fine.