NewChickielady
In the Brooder
- Mar 21, 2018
- 29
- 16
- 49
I let nature take its course this season and allowed my 2 hens to hatch thier own. One of my girls (Henley) hatched 11 out of 11 beautiful and healthy chickies on Friday. My other hen (April) was laying on 13 eggs one chick hatched on Monday so I left her alone thinking the others would hatch by Tuesday afternoon. I still only saw one so I got worried and went to check on the others I saw 1 was half way out but the shell was crushed and the chickie was shrink wrapped and still breathing so I help remove the remaining shell. Another chick had pipped so I let it. I picked up the rest 1 at a time to see if I can hear a peep and I did on one so I left it in the nest. I candled the rest and 5 were still moving so I placed those back in the nest. I returned 3 hours later to check on the one that had pipped. At this point she has 2 chicks walking around and one that should be hatching soon. Well to my surprise the one that had pipped and the one that had internally pipped where both dead. One was shrink wrapped with the shell still attached and again crushed like the first one I helped and the other lay motionless. I was devastated maybe I could have helped them survive but now I will never know.
This is where I need help!!
I woke this morning to momma drinking water with her 2 live chicks and in the nest I see the same thing as yesterday one half out crushed shell and shrink wrapped and another pipped shrink wrapped. I assisted the one chick that was halfway out, but the other was no longer breathing. So here I am I am afraid to place it back in with momma hen I don't want to lose another. I currently have it on my chest with a warm blanket to keep it warm while my brooder warms up. Should I place it back in with momma once its dry or take the other 2 out and allow her to continue to sit on the remaining 2 eggs?
This is where I need help!!
I woke this morning to momma drinking water with her 2 live chicks and in the nest I see the same thing as yesterday one half out crushed shell and shrink wrapped and another pipped shrink wrapped. I assisted the one chick that was halfway out, but the other was no longer breathing. So here I am I am afraid to place it back in with momma hen I don't want to lose another. I currently have it on my chest with a warm blanket to keep it warm while my brooder warms up. Should I place it back in with momma once its dry or take the other 2 out and allow her to continue to sit on the remaining 2 eggs?