Missing broody egg - can I give her a store bought chick now?

[HippieAtHeart]

My broody when she started to sit had 1 real egg and 1 porcelain egg under her. I gave her another fertilized egg to also sit on. Today is day 12. The one I gave her I just saw today was cracked and the chick obviously dead. I looked to check for the other egg and it was gone. I searched high and low in the coop and her, I felt under her wings and lifted up her body and nothing. I’m so confused what happened with it. About 2 days ago that egg was the one that was on the ground of the coop so maybe it was a bad egg and she knocked down again and the other chickens ate it shell and all? I have 1/4 inch hardware everywhere on my coop so I doubt a snake. Anyway, you lose some you win some.

At this point I’m looking to give her a chick since she has been super diligent as a broody and I want to reward her for that. Should I wait to put a day old chick under at night until her 21 days is up or does it not matter when? She is only sitting on a porcelain egg right now.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[chickenlittle21]

I would wait until day 21

 

[HippieAtHeart]

I would wait until day 21

Do hens really know that’s about when the eggs are supposed to hatch? Also she is a black australorp, should I get a dark chick to give her or does it not matter?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Color shouldn't matter to her. Does she have a porcelain egg still or is the nest empty?

 

[HippieAtHeart]

Color shouldn't matter to her. Does she have a porcelain egg still or is the nest empty?

Good to know. I left the porcelain egg under her.

 

[Jt and Chicks]

I would give her a chick any day at night she will appreciate it a bunch! They would take every chick in the world of they could!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I would personally wait a few more days before giving her babies. She should still continue to brood on the fake egg so she will still be waiting for one to hatch

 

[HippieAtHeart]

I would give her a chick any day at night she will appreciate it a bunch! They would take every chick in the world of they could!

Lol that’s funny. Won’t she realize the “egg” isn’t supposed to hatch yet? Also should I take the fake egg out when I put the chick under her at night? What time at night do you stick them under them anyway?

 

[HippieAtHeart]

I would personally wait a few more days before giving her babies. She should still continue to brood on the fake egg so she will still be waiting for one to hatch

I think I might wait until Wednesday or possibly Friday depending on my week. Will it matter it would be “hatching” about a week early?

 

[Jt and Chicks]

Lol that’s funny. Won’t she realize the “egg” isn’t supposed to hatch yet? Also should I take the fake egg out when I put the chick under her at night? What time at night do you stick them under them anyway?

I don't think broody hens keep track of when the eggs is going to hatch. You should take the fake egg out. I would do it right after it gets dark.