Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[dlynne1123]

It could be resting. I'd just watch it a little longer and see what happens.
Also you'll want to make sure it has air flow, so make sure the paper towel doesn't completely cover the egg.

When will I know to give up? Just wait until morning? It looks like the sac is starting to get weak? Break apart or open? Still only small amounts of blood but no movement. I see the beak again, but it looks as though the chick is falling out of the shell? But still in a sac? I feel like i"m birthing a puppy! If its gone, should there be some sort of smell? I wish I had a preme stethoscope!

My baggie has a small straw going into the baggie and the egg is sitting on paper towels, only slightly enveloped by one where the shell is missing. Too much?

 

[chickenguysmom]

dlynne - sending good thoughts your way.

 

[msmechanic58]

My Jersey Giant mama and the 5 chicks who hatched successfully. She is doing good with teaching them. We have them separated from the rest of the hens and rooster. Mama is the bottom of the pecking order. How do I go about integrating them in the whole flock or should I wait awhile?

 

[lilstar]

eek. could she possibly have mites? i've noticed when she gets out for breaks, she's scratching around her face pretty excessively. She drew blood at the base of her beak! a little over a week until her chicks are due. What do I do?

 

[bobbieschicks]

When will I know to give up?  Just wait until morning?  It looks like the sac is starting to get weak?  Break apart or open?  Still only small amounts of blood but no movement.  I see the beak again, but it looks as though the chick is falling out of the shell?  But still in a sac?  I feel like i"m birthing a puppy!  If its gone, should there be some sort of smell?  I wish I had a preme stethoscope!

My baggie has a small straw going into the baggie and the egg is sitting on paper towels, only slightly enveloped by one where the shell is missing.  Too much?

Any way to tuck it back under the broody to finish hatching? Is the beak moving at all? If it is it's probably trying to get out still. I guess I can't figure out what's happening without a visual. As long as its getting air flow to the chick and its broken out of some of the shell, there's a good chance it will make it.

 

[bobbieschicks]

My Jersey Giant mama and the 5 chicks who hatched successfully.  She is doing good with teaching them.  We have them separated from the rest of the hens and rooster.  Mama is the bottom of the pecking order.  How do I go about integrating them in the whole flock or should I wait awhile?

I let my broodies take care of integration around the fifth day when they bring them into the run. I just keep an eye on everyone and don't interfere unless I feel someone is being too aggressive. The broodies both taught their babies how to go in and out of the coop by the ramps and made new nests on the coop floor.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Annoying duplicate posts! Ugh!

 

[dlynne1123]

Any way to tuck it back under the broody to finish hatching? Is the beak moving at all? If it is it's probably trying to get out still. I guess I can't figure out what's happening without a visual. As long as its getting air flow to the chick and its broken out of some of the shell, there's a good chance it will make it.

I thougth about it, but just seeing the egg like that made the mom start pecking at it..I didn't dare....it doesn't look good. Its shell is broken but still in the sac....it was moving earlier but I thought I wasn't supposed to break the sac until it did it on its own? The shell must have been broken by mom on accident or another bird. It was quite damaged....not sure if I was supposed to break the sac then? I wrapped it in moist paper towels and have had a difficult time moderating the temperature all day. I can say it never got colder than 85 and no hotter than 105.....but a few hours ago it wasn't moving anymore and I think I lost it. I have it in a baggy set up now with the temp at 99-100 and some moist paper towels to keep it moist but the sac is slowly deterioirating, as in it's ripping away. Was I supposed to break its sac hours ago? Sigh

 

[bobbieschicks]

I thougth about it, but just seeing the egg like that made the mom start pecking at it..I didn't dare....it doesn't look good.  Its shell is broken but still in the sac....it was moving earlier but I thought I wasn't supposed to break the sac until it did it on its own?  The shell must have been broken by mom on accident or another bird.  It was quite damaged....not sure if I was supposed to break the sac then?  I wrapped it in moist paper towels and have had a difficult time moderating the temperature all day.  I can say it never got colder than 85 and no hotter than 105.....but a few hours ago it wasn't moving anymore and I think I lost it.  I have it in a baggy set up now with the temp at 99-100 and some moist paper towels to keep it moist but the sac is slowly deterioirating, as in it's ripping away.  Was I supposed to break its sac hours ago?  Sigh

If its still in the air sac and hasn't pipped that yet with the blood loss it's questionable if it would make it. I wouldn't do anything further, and if it's not moving or trying to get out, them I would say its gone. You can wait until morning, but I would call it after 12 hours of not moving. It seems this one wasn't meant to be. I'm sorry. It sounds like you did all you could. Sometimes these things happen. The broody might have realized a problem with the unhatched chick and was trying to destroy it herself. I hope it goes easier for you next time.

 

[JoshU]

If its still in the air sac and hasn't pipped that yet with the blood loss it's questionable if it would make it. I wouldn't do anything further, and if it's not moving or trying to get out, them I would say its gone. You can wait until morning, but I would call it after 12 hours of not moving. It seems this one wasn't meant to be. I'm sorry. It sounds like you did all you could. Sometimes these things happen. The broody might have realized a problem with the unhatched chick and was trying to destroy it herself. I hope it goes easier for you next time.

I agree. I have lost 2 dozen eggs that I bought before. That was the incubators fault. Or mine for using only one thermometer. Anyway It sucks when you get to day 21 and are so excited about the new life, just to be disapointed. Your broody was either helping it out or was destroying a problem embryo. Sometimes we just have to let nature take its coarse. I dont remember reading if this was the only chick or not. If not them hopefully momma will take good care of the others. You couldnt have done anything more though either way.