long hatch - help needed please

[chickenrk]

Hi all,

Unbeknown to me, we had a broody hen (year old) which my sons left some eggs under over a period of a week or so... When i realised, i made sure that no more went under - we had about 14. Chick 1 hatched 3 weeks ago and we have had a few eggs kicked out and broken due to being off... Chicks 4&5 hatched at the weekend and today i have come home to a chick which has hatched a few hours ago, but has been kicked out of the nest. I am not sure if it can lift its head as it is very weak. I have put it in my incubator to fluff up to give it a fighting chance, but worry it is malformed, or has been kicked out because it is going to die and I still have two more eggs under the hen. Thoughts on 1. what do do about my frail baby 2. the other two eggs? All suggestions much appreciated - i have a sad boy here x

 

[JanetMarie]

Let the mom raise the oldest chicks. Raise the youngest chicks yourself, as it will be too difficult for the youngest chicks to keep up with the mom and oldest chicks.

The mom needed to be off the nest a few days after the first chicks hatched. Don't make her hatch the last two.

 

[Olivekat07]

Answer for 2. They might be dead but just keep an eye on them and if they don’t hatch in about a week or so you might just want to throw them away. Did you candle them to see if they were fertilized when you first figured out that they were under the hen?

 

[chickenrk]

Hi both, thank you for the replies. Yes, i did candle them and they are alive. Should i put the other eggs in an incubator then do you think?

 

[Olivekat07]

No, leave them where they are.

Edited: If they are dead and you put them in the incubator they will explode and spread bacteria.

 

[chickenrk]

No, leave them where they are.

ok, thank you. Do you think she has thrown the baby out because it is too small and she is fed up, or because it has issues? which is most likely?

 

[Olivekat07]

Either reason could be possible, can you post a picture?

 

[chickenrk]

Either reason could be possible, can you post a picture?

i tried with the computer and it just looks like a clump at the minute. will find a camera in the morning if it is still alive. It seems quite weak, but fingers crossed things go well tonight.

 

[Olivekat07]

i tried with the computer and it just looks like a clump at the minute. will find a camera in the morning if it is still alive. It seems quite weak, but fingers crossed things go well tonight.

Hope so too!