Need some desperate advice Friends..

[monathequeen]

Ok, it's been 23 day's now and my babie chick hasn't hatched yet.
I only had one egg under the mother because the other's were taken, eaten or a ghost needed some breakfast. Ginger has been continueously sitting like 23 hrs. a day and I read that the last three day's of hatching, she will not leave the nest. Well, she was out and about yesterday as usual and I'am wondering since it's past the hatching period if the egg is dead.
What do I do now ? Do I get rid of the egg or give it a few more days?
If I wanted to, could I give her another clutch of new eggs to sit on or should I give her a break. I feel so bad that she has been so faithful with her broodiness. It's her first time and I have had her for 2 1/2 yrs.
I really want the poor thing to have a chick hatch since she has had to endure 3-weeks of being "cooped-up...LOL " in a box away from all the other chicks.
Some advice would be great !! Thanks "again "


Mona-

 

[SpunkyTheMonkey]

looks like it's dead, sorry.

get rid of the egg and give her a break for a bit.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Did you have her confined in her own little pen or was it open? Did she start with more than one egg but predators have been taking them out? That's not an ideal situation. I've learned the hard way to keep my broodies confined so that no predators can harm her or her eggs, and so no other hens can interrupt her.

If you don't have such a set-up, you may just want to remove & bury that egg -- you can open it up if you dare -- and break her broody spell. Also, check her condition. If she seems too light or thin, too pale or weak, she should be allowed to go back with the flock. She really won't pine for lost chicks, her system will re-set and her head will clear & she really won't remember.

But, if you have a secure set-up for her, and she seems in good condition, you could give her more eggs & let her set for 3 more weeks.

 

[peepsnbunnies]

Have you tried candling it at night when she is sleepy/dopey. I do that and get rid of any eggs that are not developing. It only takes a moment. I do it with a mag-lite flashlight with a dark colored cardboard circle with a 1/2" hole cut out of the center taped over the light. I hold the light over the top of the egg and have had good luck seeing inside the egg. I always listen to the egg too. If the chick is alive and trying to hatch, you could hear it peeping, scratching and pecking.

I usually leave eggs under the hen for several days after they were supposed to hatch just in case there is a late hatcher.

If it is not fertile, she will just have to beak-up and quit being broody, I don't like mine to be broody endlessly - especially in this heat.

If you know someone close by that has day old chicks, you could get a few and slip them under her at night and take the egg if you know it is not going to hatch (clear/unfertile)

 

[steffpeck]

I would candle it and see if you can tell if it is alive or not.

 

[monathequeen]

To Spunky, and to all who responded. Thanks !!

I took the egg out this am and candled it...no movement or sound whatsoever. I used my stethoscope and heard nothing so I was almost certain there was a lost chick.
I cracked the egg open in a bowl away from the mother and there was a completely formed chick inside. But, there was no heartbeat. I think the chick died recently because you could see the blood vessels around the yolk that looked full of life.
The egg may have cooled too much the other day while she was out of her nesting box" twice" one day for a long time.
I dont' know what may have happen but will chalk it up to experience this time.

Poor ol' hen is in a panick now looking for her box and egg. I removed them both. The box was in a corner seperate from the other hens.

I hope she will be ok in a few day's. I decided not to give it another go with new egg's. She needs a break like you said plus cold weather is just around the corner. getting close to Winter and I don't want new babies with this cold climate we are getting ready for.

I will try again next summer when I 'am better prepared for a new batch of chicks and have a better setup for her.
Thanks again everyone who responded to my desperate calls. Mona-

 

[SpunkyTheMonkey]

0.02: i think she left because it died rather than the other way around.

better luck next time.