Ricks of moving eggs from an incubator to a broody hen...

[temple1612]

I recently bought 8 fertile eggs that had been in an incubator for around 15 days. They have now been under my broody for about 8 days. So it should around day 22, but I have seen no signs of hatching. Is it possible they didn't live through the change of environment? Is it possible that the temp change could extend the hatch time?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Did you candle them to see they were alive and developing prior to placing under broody? Other than that just wait it out a few days more.

 

[temple1612]

Did you candle them to see they were alive and developing prior to placing under broody? Other than that just wait it out a few days more.

I did not but she said she did, and I can't imagine she would still have them in her incubator for 15 days if she didn't think they were developing. They do feel heavy like there is a chick in there though. How many days should I wait?

I have had the worse luck with the broody. I only got these eggs because the ones she was sitting on didn't survive. There were some that looked like they died on day 17-18 so I am worried.

 

[Ronnie2]

I left my bought eggs in incubator until they hatched. I kept them under a red light until they started perching & knocking the feed tray over. Then moved them out to the coop, separated from the others until 14-weeks old, others say just two weeks would be enough

 

[temple1612]

I left my bought eggs in incubator until they hatched. I kept them under a red light until they started perching & knocking the feed tray over. Then moved them out to the coop, separated from the others until 14-weeks old, others say just two weeks would be enough

Thank you for your response, but this literally has nothing to do with the question I asked.

 

[Ronnie2]

Well Temple, did they ever hatch under your broody, are did you have to toss them. I just had to toss three eggs under a first time layer, after almost three weeks sitting, she became un broody. She gets another chance at doing it right, since she was a first time layer

 

[temple1612]

Well Temple, did they ever hatch under your broody, are did you have to toss them. I just had to toss three eggs under a first time layer, after almost three weeks sitting, she became un broody. She gets another chance at doing it right, since she was a first time layer

They did not hatch. So I went and bought 5 day old chicks and she adopted them right away. Out of the 8 eggs that I got from the incubator only 3 were even fertile and the 5 day old chicks I got were the only ones of 40+ in the incubator that hatched. So I am not sure what the issue with this batch of eggs was. Usually, her eggs are very reliable.

 

[Ronnie2]

My first broody hen never laid an egg, I put eleven fresh fertile eggs from the two remaining out of the original 6-pullets I bought with rooster. No telling what I will get, hopefully hens, but most unlikely. The second hen laid only 5-eggs, which was total loss. I'm on my way to maximum of around 30. Only if I live long enough, never no about old folks

 

[Ronnie2]

Here is the corrected whole story: I first started out this past April with 6-pullets I had bought with an rooster, but lost three hens to predators, tried free ranging. Then I ordered 12-hens, plus rooster, they came through mail to local friends feed store, and hatched when put in incubator at store. My first broody hen never laid an egg, so I put eleven fresh fertile eggs from the two remaining hens. No telling what I will get, hopefully hens, but most unlikely. The second hen went broody, and laid only 5-eggs, which was total loss. She now is back with the flock. The third hen hasn't gone broody yet. I'm on my way to maximum of around 30. Only if I live long enough, never no about old folks!!

 

[Ronnie2]

Here is the corrected whole story: I first started out this past April with 6-pullets I had bought with an rooster, but lost three hens to predators, tried free ranging. Then I ordered 12-hens, plus rooster, they came through mail to local friends feed store, and hatched when put in incubator at store. My first broody hen never laid an egg, so I put eleven fresh fertile eggs from the two remaining hens. No telling what I will get, hopefully hens, but most unlikely. The second hen went broody, and laid only 5-eggs, which was total loss. She now is back with the flock. The third hen hasn't gone broody yet. I'm on my way to maximum of around 30. Only if I live long enough, never no about old folks!!