Questions about hatching in incubator & introducing chick to Mama with chicks

[Chicken Maw-Maw]

I have a broody hen who hatched 2 chicks last week. I put the other 4 in the incubator because they were laid later and the chicks weren’t fully developed yet. Today I have one that started its hatch process this morning and has managed a little hole in the shell now. For some reason the incubator humidity level is ranging between about 45-50% despite me adding water throughout the day. Instructions say it should be 65% during hatching.

I put the egg under Momma a little while ago but noticed she’s got her wings up a bit, I’m guessing so her babies won’t get too hot. Because of that I’m concerned the hatchling might not stay warm enough then die, so I put the egg (hatchling) back in the incubator. Do you think I should let it hatch in the incubator & keep trying to get the humidity level up to where it should be? If so, is it ok to spray the egg itself with water, too in hopes to help soften it a bit?? Then I’m hoping Momma will take to caring for baby when I add it to the nest in the morning. Does anyone have any experience doing this?? Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[Chicken Maw-Maw]

I have a broody hen who hatched 2 chicks last week. I put the other 4 in the incubator because they were laid later and the chicks weren’t fully developed yet. Today I have one that started its hatch process this morning and has managed a little hole in the shell now. For some reason the incubator humidity level is ranging between about 45-50% despite me adding water throughout the day. Instructions say it should be 65% during hatching.

I put the egg under Momma a little while ago but noticed she’s got her wings up a bit, I’m guessing so her babies won’t get too hot. Because of that I’m concerned the hatchling might not stay warm enough then die, so I put the egg (hatchling) back in the incubator. Do you think I should let it hatch in the incubator & keep trying to get the humidity level up to where it should be? If so, is it ok to spray the egg itself with water, too in hopes to help soften it a bit?? Then I’m hoping Momma will take to caring for baby when I add it to the nest in the morning. Does anyone have any experience doing this?? Thanks in advance for your advice.

I decided to keep the egg in the incubator and I noticed later that a second one is hatching - a surprise at day 18 (now 19). It’s 7am here and the larger chick is coming along well. The smaller one, who I noticed made its first crack in the shell about 10 hours earlier, has not made a lot of progress. It is still alive, though. I’ve observed the egg wobbling. I got the humidity up higher but am concerned it hasn’t been high enough for baby to break through. Should I dampen the shell with a mist of water??

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Is your broody inside or outside where it is cold? From some of my experiences, it is best to let the broody hatch the egg. Their bodies are just right for the job. But if shes outside in the main coop and already caring for one chick, she potentially could get up and leave the hatching eggs.

Since the eggs are already in the process of hatching, iI would just leave them in the inky. The first one is zipping already and should make its appearance today. Once a chick pips, sometimes they will rest....for up to 24 hours.

Integrating may be tricky since she already has one that is a week old. Not that it cant be done though! I literally just went through this a week ago. I had my broody in a recycling container while she continued to sit on non visble eggs with her one chick that hatched. I had backups in my inky that were due a week later. Once those 3 hatched, I slipped them under her and took out the non viable ones. She really wasnt impressed and kept pecking at them. A trick my friend taught me was to cover the container with a towel to make it dark. She cant peck what she cant see. The first time I did this last year with her, it took two weeks. This time it only took 1-2 days. Sadly, she refused to accept a trio of orp chicks that hatched 1 day later. So now i get to play mom. But she is devoted to her other 4.

 

[Chicken Maw-Maw]

Is your broody inside or outside where it is cold? From some of my experiences, it is best to let the broody hatch the egg. Their bodies are just right for the job. But if shes outside in the main coop and already caring for one chick, she potentially could get up and leave the hatching eggs.

Since the eggs are already in the process of hatching, iI would just leave them in the inky. The first one is zipping already and should make its appearance today. Once a chick pips, sometimes they will rest....for up to 24 hours.

Integrating may be tricky since she already has one that is a week old. Not that it cant be done though! I literally just went through this a week ago. I had my broody in a recycling container while she continued to sit on non visble eggs with her one chick that hatched. I had backups in my inky that were due a week later. Once those 3 hatched, I slipped them under her and took out the non viable ones. She really wasnt impressed and kept pecking at them. A trick my friend taught me was to cover the container with a towel to make it dark. She cant peck what she cant see. The first time I did this last year with her, it took two weeks. This time it only took 1-2 days. Sadly, she refused to accept a trio of orp chicks that hatched 1 day later. So now i get to play mom. But she is devoted to her other 4.

Thanks for sharing your experience with me. Yes, Mama and her first two chicks are outside. They’re in a small hard plastic dog kennel not far from the main coop. I suppose I can keep the babies in the incubator until evening when they’ve settled down and introduce them then. It will be dark in there and now I remember that I heard it’s best to introduce chickens to a flock at night when they’re settling in. You said it took 2 weeks last year. Do you mean it took two weeks for Mama to accept the chicks? If so, did you put babies in and remove them after she refused them each day for two weeks?
Isn’t that interesting that she just wouldn’t accept the orp chicks? Chickens are so fun and interesting!

 

[homeschoolin momma]

. You said it took 2 weeks last year. Do you mean it took two weeks for Mama to accept the chicks? If so, did you put babies in and remove them after she refused them each day for two weeks?

Yes, it took her a little over two weeks to accept the chicks. I did not take them out of the box but rather kept them with her in the dark for two weeks. I allowed enough light that she and the babies could find their food and water. But they were inside in a rubbermaid/recycling bin. Since yours is outside, you would have to stay there (or come back frequently) and make sure she accepts them. If you have a bin that you could bring her inside for a spell, that may work best. You aren't going to really know until you see how she reacts. She may be like one of my friends broodies. If it cheeps, it's hers! She is a phenominal mother, I think she raised 5 batches of chicks last year!

 

[Chicken Maw-Maw]

It’s almost 3am and the chicks still haven’t hatched yet. I heard them peeping in the shell yesterday morning. The bantam (not pictured) broke through the shell first but only has a tiny bit broken and has its beak sticking out. At least that’s a good sign. It rolled over, though, so the broken part is now at the bottom. I hope they’re ok. The humidity level hasn’t been staying above 60% the whole time, so that concerns me. It is at 67% right now, though, and baby is chirping. I still wonder if I should spritz some water on the egg??? What do you say??

Also, is it odd that this chick didn’t break entirely around the shell to cut it in two pieces? Is that a sign of trouble? I took this photo just a few minutes ago.