mum off nest 2 babies half hatched!

[Louise2]

Oh Dear what should I do? Put her back on nest with 3 already hatched? or put half hatched with her on floor of coop? Oh Dear!!!! Please help.

 

[onthespot]

are they stuck in the shells? describe how they look when you say half hatched. Do NOT put them on the floor with her. Maybe you can help them finish hatching and then slip them back under her at night when they are all fluffed out and dried and walking.

 

[Louise2]

they have holes pecked in their shells can see their beeks and hear them peeping! Thankyou

 

[Louise2]

sorry bit flustered, how do i know if they stuck?

 

[onthespot]

is there any way you can rig up a home made brooder with a light, a pan of water, some screen or wire mesh, a clear tupperware bowl, stuff like that?

 

[Louise2]

is an ordinary night light ok?

 

[maymiegirl]

Don't help them, whatever you do. There are very tiny veins inside that if ruptured could kill the chick, cripple it or cause it to go blind. If you have an incubator or heating pad place them where they will be warm--around 94 degrees but not too warm. Don't allow the eggs to change position or the chick may forget where it is and never make it out of the shell.

A hen will leave her nest if the eggs are hatching at the same time. It is normal. The drop in temp. helps the baby to hatch properly. If she is gone after you check back in say, 15 minutes, you will need to keep them warm. If it is quiet and calm in there, she should return to the nest. She may just be nervous because she is exposed to human contact right now. Try and give her a few quiet minutes first--she should go back to the nest.

 

[maymiegirl]

I used a small pet taxi once. Do you have a moist heating pad? Even a dry one can be placed into a pet taxi and a baker's cooling rack over the top, covered with a soft cloth, blanket or pillow case. Then cover the pet taxi with another DAMP, not wet, warm blanket. Test the temperature before you put the babies inside.

Your outer blanket should envelop the entire pet taxi or--even a box--so the heat is held inside well.

 

[Louise2]

I dont have an incubator or anything like that. i think mum got off because the babies that hatched yesterday got out! she is trying to pop them under her on ground. I promice i wont help them break the shell. I dont want them do die!!!!!!!!! i really want to put them back under her

 

[Louise2]

maymie girl thanks i will try to rig that up. I can prob manage that. thankyou so much both of you.