Late Hatch

[Dirty Dozen]

I just hatched one chick. Next chick is ready to hatch. Last eggs is pecking inside but not peeping or holes yet. How long will mom wait before she leaves the egg? Worried about last one!

 

[allanimals21]

My silkie 2 weeks ago hatched 6 and sat on the 7th egg for 3 more days until I took it and put it in the incubator where it hatched 3 days? later?

 

[FenDruadin]

I had duck eggs hatch out on three separate days from the same setting. So it's not unusual. However, the mama may get impatient and leave the last one. I have never had a broody, so I don't know how long she's likely to wait. I would be ready, though, in case she does. Do you have an incubator? Can you borrow one and get it set up for hatching if necessary?

If not, there are a number of things you can do that *might* be successful in helping the little one to hatch. Once it is hatched, you can tuck it back under mama at night, and it should be fine.

If you don't have an incubator, post again and hopefully someone will post ideas for getting that last one to hatch. I know it is sometimes successfully done in a bra (yes, while the bra is being worn, lol), but I don't know that that is likely to be the most successful way.

 

[Dirty Dozen]

I have a bator, but if I hatch it in there, will the mother accept it?

 

[FenDruadin]

Having never had a broody, I can't speak from experience. However, my understanding is that if you have a chick close to the same age as those already under the broody, you can put it under her at night and she will almost always (maybe even always) accept it. She may not even notice the difference--chickens are not the smartest of God's critters.