Putting near-pipped eggs under a broody hen. Thoughts?

[Abigail Joanna]

I've seen articles here and there about putting fertile eggs and even new chicks under broody hens, but what about putting near-pipped eggs under them?

 

[chickenlittle21]

I would recommend to wait until the chicks hatch then give the chicks to the broody.

 

[Abigail Joanna]

I would recommend to wait until the chicks hatch then give the chicks to the broody.

And why?

 

[chickenlittle21]

And why?

It might disrupt the chicks in the eggs by moving them. I may be wrong though.

 

[Abigail Joanna]

Bump! Any other opinions?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I would definitely wait until the eggs hatched. If they are progressing well, I wouldn’t want to take any risk of the eggs breaking at this point. Anything can happen....
Just a cautious approach.

 

[philnj]

I’ve done it with a duck eggs from incubator she was broody maybe 5 days. Put newly hatched and pipping eggs under her. She raised them

 

[Abigail Joanna]

I’ve done it with a duck eggs from incubator she was broody maybe 5 days. Put newly hatched and pipping eggs under her. She raised them

Lovely! Did you experience any extra loss of the ducklings? Lower hatch rate?

 

[philnj]

Lost 1 first night

 

[chickens really]

I always give my incubator eggs to a Broody if I have one setting. I'm actually waiting for my one Hen to leave the nest and whatever she leaves I'm giving to the other Hen thats Broody. So much easier raising them by a Momma.