New babies!!!

[jaymejojos]

We have new babies! These two are probably Orpington crossed with Salmon Faverolle. But we still have 9 eggs left in the nest. I'm new to chickens and hatching eggs! How long do we let her remain on the nest before giving up on the rest?

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

Congrats on the babies! They are adorable fuzz balls!

I had a silkie hen who was sitting on some eggs and I allowed her to stay on however long she wanted, which was maybe 24 hours or less? I took the one egg that didn't hatch and put it in an incubator, but it never did hatch. So she probably knew that it was a dud.

So from my personal experience, I would let her sit on the eggs however long she wants. She will probably leave the eggs for the good of her chicks eventually, but the chicks don't need to eat for a couple days, so they won't be put in danger if she sits on the eggs for a bit longer. If she's still on the eggs and it's been 3 days, maybe it is time to take away the eggs. I didn't have this problem though.

Take it into consideration that this was a one time experience for me, so hopefully others can give their advice.

 

[jaymejojos]

2 more hatched today - 4 out of 11 so far.

 

[jaymejojos]

Final count was 8 of 11. Two eggs never formed and the third died before hatching or absorbing the yolk.

We also lost one chick.... She and another baby somehow got out of the nest box and wandered into a corner - we think they got a chill. One was dead when I found them and other was very close to death - I snatched her up and rubbed her belly and chest while I rushed her in to the house. My husband set up a brooder quickly while I held her under a lamp. A few hours later and after a little snuggling with one of her sisters she was peeping and wobbling around. By morning they looked so good we took them back out to Gertie (our broody hen) and she accepted them back.

Sad that we lost one but happy that I could rehabilitate one.

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

I had 2 hatch, 1 last night, and 1 early this morning. She still has 3 eggs under her. I have her in a large container in the house.
Once she gets up to move around, I will check the remaining eggs, had to toss out one egg last night. It was ice cold, no sound, and it is one that I noticed she kept moving away from her for about a week. Just wanted to give it a chance, just in case.