Mama hen left eggs before they hatched

[Dawnann67]

My hen was sitting on a batch of eggs the kids gave her over a weeks time span. The first two hatched and she left the others. We went to pull the eggs but discovered the first one we tossed had a chick almost ready to hatch. Should I remove the baby’s to a brooder? Mama went right back to the eggs while we were cleaning up our mess. But I’m afraid to put the chicks back in again. Thanks !

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hens will leave the nest around 2 days after the first egg hatches as the chicks need to eat and drink. It's always best to set eggs all in one day. You can try confining her to the nest area and putting food and water close. Otherwise pulling the chicks as they hatch can work too. She may or may not take them back.

 

[Dawnann67]

Hens will leave the nest around 2 days after the first egg hatches as the chicks need to eat and drink. It's always best to set eggs all in one day. You can try confining her to the nest area and putting food and water close. Otherwise pulling the chicks as they hatch can work too. She may or may not take them back.

Yes, learned my lesson about setting them all same day. We will keep the babies in the brooder as they went to the food and water right away. Guess we’ll see if any more hatch out. Thank you!