My broody kicked out eggs... Updated

[emsevers]

But if there were 2 doesn't it seem more likely that she pushed them out. I don't understanding how they could have just fallen out. The nesting boxes have a ledge in front of her so it would be really difficult for them to just end up out there. I don't know though, this is my first time.

I've been feeling sick about this all day. I feel like I did the wrong thing but I don't know how they could have still been alive after all that time out in the cold. I guess it's just a learning experience. At the time I didn't even think to put them back under her. Maybe I have some bad instincts.

 

[swtangel321]

What did you end up doing with them ??

I dont think you did the wrong thing, you did what you did.... Chances are they got cold and were bad !!

I just know that somtimes if you put em back under they will hatch fine, not when they are out for hours at 20 degrees !!

 

[emsevers]

I ended up throwing them out. I was going to try and open them up and see if there was something wrong but I got one tiny piece of the shell of one of them and saw a little bit of blood and felt so bad because then I knew there was a little chick in there. I was really really hoping that they would be duds and have nothing in them. I hadn't candled them at all so I really didn't know what was going on. But my worst fear came true. I couldn't look anymore because I knew I would start crying. I might be way to emotional for this. Heaven forbid I have a chick die after it's hatched, I don't know how I'll deal with it.

 

[swtangel321]

awwww

I understand where your coming from, The first chicks I ever got from a breeder ended up being sick with ILT (a bad deadly cold) They started dieing 1 by 1 it made me so sick, I made hubby pick up there bodys b/c I couldnt after the first 5 I got use to it. It's hard but its a part of life !!

 

[onthespot]

probably they were no good after getting cold like that. you did the right thing to throw those two away. The thing now is to prevent more eggs from falling out or being pushed inadvertently, and prevent nosey other hens from digging them out so they can look at them. I have one that does that too. I have seen her do it. She will pull an egg out from under a broody, admire it, place little bits of straw on it, walk circles around it, move it with her bill closer to her feet, then just walk off and leave it there out in the cold. I let her do her whole scenario because i was curious what she would do, if she was an egg eater, or going broody, or what. None of the above. She just wanted to see the egg and play with it for a while.

If you build the nest deep enough, the other birds can't easily dig out the eggs, even when she is off the nest for a meals and potty break. I have had as many as seventeen bantam eggs under a bantam cochin, well covered in a deep nest made out of bermuda hay in a horse supplement bucket. Here is a pic of a broody marans on a tremendous clutch of eggs. Most of those hatched as well. Four should be a cakewalk for almost any but the smallest hen. Sorry to those of you that have seen this pic a few times before.

 

[emsevers]

Thank you all for your sympathy. I hope all goes well with these last four eggs. I'm going to go out right now and build up her nest.

BTW that is a really cool pick. I can't believe she can sit on so many at one time. I'm amazed.

 

[swtangel321]

Quote:
Please keep us updated on what happens

Heres to a good hatch

 

[emsevers]

I just went out and put a bunch of straw around her. Hopefully that will help. I will definitely tell you what happens. Thanks so much.

 

[emsevers]

Just to update, one of the eggs under my silkie has pipped!!!

I am so excited. It was so cool because I heard the little baby start peeping. It was the cutest. The other three haven't done anything yet. I'm not sure how close to the first pip I should expect the rest to go. I'm so nervous over this whole thing. Today is day 21 so I've heard that they can hatch a day or two later, but if one has already started should I expect the rest to come soon if at all? I'm hoping and praying that they come soon.

Let me know what you think.

 

[swtangel321]

CONGRATS on the pip

They can take a full 24+ hours to fully hatch, somtimes the first to pip is the last to hatch !! The others (if good) should follow along soon !!