Mama silkie burying fertilized eggs why?

[MartaKuz]

I have a silkie

who has been sitting on eggs, four have hatched and the babies are running everywhere they are about 3 days old. The other four eggs are in the nest box and she has covered them completely. I'm not sure if she's covering them because they aren't going to hatch, or to keep them warm? Or to keep them separate from the babies? Those eggs are not due to hatch for three more days should I remove them?

 

[cherrynberry]

I have a silkie View attachment 2691507who has been sitting on eggs, four have hatched and the babies are running everywhere they are about 3 days old. The other four eggs are in the nest box and she has covered them completely. I'm not sure if she's covering them because they aren't going to hatch, or to keep them warm? Or to keep them separate from the babies? Those eggs are not due to hatch for three more days should I remove them?

After a few days, if the other eggs don’t hatch, she does not sit on them anymore

 

[cherrynberry]

The chicks can survive 3 days without food and water...after that, the mom need to put the chicks as number 1 priority

 

[MartaKuz]

Okay so what you're saying is I need to get the eggs and put them under another mama or they're not going to hatch? That sucks I wish I'd known that is it too late crap

 

[Mellowmalt]

if she abandoned them over 12 hours ago then chances are slim any of the eggs she abandoned instinctively will make it.

 

[cherrynberry]

Okay so what you're saying is I need to get the eggs and put them under another mama or they're not going to hatch? That sucks I wish I'd known that is it too late crap

Yes, try at least...as long as you have another broody, it’s not much work..

 

[ChickNanny13]

Or if no broody, set up a make shift incubator ... Heating pad/heat lamp with bowl of water . Due to a power outage I did try putting some eggs in the oven on the top shelf with candles under them. Was a temporary fix for about an hour until power went back on, they back in the incubator. Not all hatched but it was try or they all weren't going to make it.

 

[sourland]

This is a routine problem with staggered hatches as hens are biologically programed to leave the nest within 24 to 36 hours of the first chick hatching. Making sure that her chicks access feed and water becomes her primary concern. I'd try incubating the eggs if they were viable to begin with.

 

[Yardmom]

You can use a cell phone to candle to see if they are still good. Don't give up on them until they have been warm for awhile.

 

[MartaKuz]

Okay! I'll do all that she actually is sitting back on them again and all four babies are in there with her so I will candle tonight and see if they're moving around and if so I've got two other beauty hens just chilling so I'll make the switch. Thanks so much you guys are also awesome. Chicks have had water and food access and she's been teaching them how to dig and scratch and stuff it's so cute.