Need good advice

[jafo]

Hello Peeple,
Our Orpington was setting on 3 eggs a week and a half ago, and was due to hatch out naturally on Easter Sunday. She started setting on 3 eggs on the 2nd of April, and today would be the 21st day. A few days ago, 4 others snuck in and laid 4 eggs. Everyone shares a 6x8 coop and I separate them once anyone gets born. We had one hatch out last May, naturally, and everything was / is great. Now however, the one setting, has just hatched one out, around 10 am today. I need to know how much time to allow for any other new arrivals, mostly by the other two original eggs of the 3 she was on. Will that newborn chick be ok under her Mom until tomorrow morning ? they are in a 14 x 14 inch nestbox, and she gets upset if I try to peak. I just don't want the newbie to die overnight. What about water and feed? Her Mom will help her out or what??? Can you help a.s.a.p. please?

 

[ramirezframing]

It should be ok, but if the other chickens can get to it, they will eat it. Mom should set the eggs for a day or two more for the other eggs.

 

[Ms.Frizzle]

I had a hen that hatched out 8 eggs on consecutive days because we had a sneaky hen lay eggs under her. I had the food and water sitting in front of her so she could reach it if she liked, and the babies could get to it if they got hungry. They all did fine, and she sat there until they hatched. If it’s only a day's difference between the two groups that are going to hatch, I'd say just leave them be since they’re going to be absorbing the yolk and what not.