Is there still hope?

[bbelflower]

Last night sometime my broody hen left her 18 eggs. This morning they were all cold so reactively I just put them in an incubator. Is this a wasted effort or does anyone know if there's still hope?? Was gonna wait and candle them once we got some heat going through them again. Please advise.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It depends on how cold they actually got and how long they stayed cold. I’ve had a broody hen go back to the wrong nest. The eggs were really cold to the touch when I found her and put her back on the right nest. She hatched 11 out of 11 eggs so yes there is still hope. But it’s not a good thing to have happened.

Good luck!

 

[bbelflower]

It depends on how cold they actually got and how long they stayed cold. I’ve had a broody hen go back to the wrong nest. The eggs were really cold to the touch when I found her and put her back on the right nest. She hatched 11 out of 11 eggs so yes there is still hope. But it’s not a good thing to have happened.

Good luck!

The eggs on the outside were really cold. It was 15° here this morning but they were in bedding and a coop with a heat lamp. She wasn't laying on them and didn't even come back in the coop once I walked out with the eggs. She's been sitting on a fence all morning. The eggs warmed up surprisingly fast when put in the incubator with heat and humidity. Thanks for your input. Keeping fingers crossed. One hatched out last night.

 

[sumi]

I've had a broody misplace an egg once, it rolled out of the coop and into the pouring rain where it must've been for about an hour before I found it, sopping wet and ice cold. I tucked it back under the hen and it hatched 2 days later. Chicks are surprisingly touch little things! This story might also interest you:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1072464/would-cooling-eggs-cause-such-a-delay-in-hatching/0_30

Good luck with your hatch!

 

[bbelflower]

I've had a broody misplace an egg once, it rolled out of the coop and into the pouring rain where it must've been for about an hour before I found it, sopping wet and ice cold. I tucked it back under the hen and it hatched 2 days later. Chicks are surprisingly touch little things! This story might also interest you:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1072464/would-cooling-eggs-cause-such-a-delay-in-hatching/0_30

Good luck with your hatch!

Very interesting readings! Offers a bit of encouragement! Thanks!!