My hen abandoned her clutch! What should I do?

[DanielleT]

Hello,
This is my first time letting a hen hatch chicks. She snuck off and started setting, so we decided to let her hatch them. We candled them and 7 have chicks inside. I think she only has a few days left before they start hatching but she doesn't want to set on them anymore! I have her locked in with the eggs with a few breaks during the day, but she's catching on and making it harder to catch her. Will the chicks hatch without her? We're in Texas so it's been very hot. What should I do? Is it too late to save them?

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

They might hatch. I have heard of people throwing them in a bucket with paper towels to hold moisture.
Just find where she's roosting at night ans snatch her then. It's night time you have to worry about for the eggs. Once you have her, find something to use as a pen to let her into. As long as she's still setting on the eggs and not pooping on them or breaking them, she should hatch and rear them for you

 

[DanielleT]

She has been pooping on them and she has eaten 2 :-( I had her in a small wire dog crate and she was doing great, only taking 1 break a day... then 2, etc. So I started locking her in and coming out every few hours to let her out.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

What day are they on? Do you have an incubator you can put them in?

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

She has been pooping on them and she has eaten 2 :-( I had her in a small wire dog crate and she was doing great, only taking 1 break a day... then 2, etc. So I started locking her in and coming out every few hours to let her out.

Abort mission. Raise them on your own.

 

[DanielleT]

I don't want to seem morbid, but I rinsed the chick that she broke the egg. It looks very close to hatching age. Any clue how much longer they might have?

 

[DanielleT]

Abort mission. Raise them on your own.

I don't have an incubator. Is it possible to use just a heat lamp?

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Not morbid - smart thing to do. It looks close. Around day 18 is my guess.

I'd use a lamp. Put the eggs in a little nest in a box with a lamp, put in a thermometer to tell temp and a bowl with a wet sponge for humidity. A heating pad would be even better.

 

[Cindysrescue]

@DanielleT how did everything go? Did any chicks hatch?

 

[DanielleT]

We just found this about 20 minutes ago!!! I was skeptical that they would survive with just a heat lamp and humidifier, but I guess it worked!!!!