Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[aoxa]

I've got another pip! And it's on one of the Turken eggs!

 

[Miranda2609]

I can't see the beak coming through, but mom (or serogate mom as it wasn't her actual egg), has taken to deciding to raise the baby who has hatched. She has left the unhatched egg in the nest box, which is why I put it under another broody. Who seems to be trying to be accepting the incubating process. This morning, mom was somewhat frantic, trying to get baby back into the nest box with her, so she could sit on the eggs again (baby did make it into the nest box yesterday with her for bedtime). I'm hoping that is a good sign, and under broody #2 it might have a chance to hatch. I am not seeing much movement, but the crack to me seems as if it's getting bigger... Should I tap on egg to see if I hear any peeping? Or just give it another 24 hrs to see if it'll hatch?

 

[aoxa]

I can't see the beak coming through, but mom (or serogate mom as it wasn't her actual egg), has taken to deciding to raise the baby who has hatched. She has left the unhatched egg in the nest box, which is why I put it under another broody. Who seems to be trying to be accepting the incubating process. This morning, mom was somewhat frantic, trying to get baby back into the nest box with her, so she could sit on the eggs again (baby did make it into the nest box yesterday with her for bedtime). I'm hoping that is a good sign, and under broody #2 it might have a chance to hatch. I am not seeing much movement, but the crack to me seems as if it's getting bigger... Should I tap on egg to see if I hear any peeping? Or just give it another 24 hrs to see if it'll hatch?

I would tap on it.

Since it was cold, the membrane could have dried out and it might need assistance (unless you believe in nature taking it's course). I help with the membrane issues, but never had them in broodies.

 

[Miranda2609]

Should I try to gently crack the shell to see? I've never done the hatching eggs route, and my broody hen is new to this also. Do you fully break the egg open for the chick? Or just increase the size in the crack already made?

 

[aoxa]

Should I try to gently crack the shell to see? I've never done the hatching eggs route, and my broody hen is new to this also. Do you fully break the egg open for the chick? Or just increase the size in the crack already made?

Here is a helpful thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/664257/helping-a-chick-hatch I just enlarge the pip hole to ensure that it can breathe. I take big breaks in between. You have to leave the inner membrane alone completely, as this has blood vessels that will bleed heavily if you cut it. If the membrane is tough, I will zip all around the shell and leave for 4+ hours. If nothing, I remove the shell completely and leave the membrane intact. I'll wet down the membrane with a warm Q-tip. I've done this quite a few times in my incubator because the last ones were drying out.

This girl here was my first assisted hatch. Perfectly normal. Very late to hatch. Not sure why.. Could have been an older egg. She is simply adorable and healthy as her hatch mates.

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

Oh I hope the eggs I put under my black austrolorp will hatch. She isn't a very good momma, she left them for a lOng time, i just checked now and she was sitting in the nesting box without the eggs. Luckily another hen layed an egg in the box with the hatching eggs so it was warm.

 

[Johnn]

Oh I hope the eggs I put under my black austrolorp will hatch. She isn't a very good momma, she left them for a lOng time, i just checked now and she was sitting in the nesting box without the eggs. Luckily another hen layed an egg in the box with the hatching eggs so it was warm.

reminds me of Melow, she had liek a hour and a half break then it just suddenly hit her that she had eggs to sit on so aoff she went!

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

 

[barry549]

could anyone help me as my silkie has got off the eggs and i think neglected them at day 19 ? would my chicks-to-be be ok if she sat back on them?

 

[HighNDryFarm]

could anyone help me as my silkie has got off the eggs and i think neglected them at day 19 ? would my chicks-to-be be ok if she sat back on them?

How long was she off them? Broodies will periodically get off the eggs to take a dirt bath and eat and drink so if she was off for a 1/2 hour or so I wouldn't worry. I even had a broody around day 19 go out and come back to the eggs the girls laid a couple of nests down. She was off them all day and they were fine. Is she back on them now?