Secret hiding place (picture heavy)

[luvmycritters42]

So sorry...............

 

[Promiselandfarm]

well let me know if those EE chicks are going under her and how they do ....

 

[TsaLaGi Acres]

I've been following this post even tho' I've only posted once on it. Anyone can see that you love your Big Momma hen. She's well taken care of as anyone can see by the pic's you have posted. Some animals take loosing their babies harder than others. We had a broody hen that wanted babies so bad she'd steal eggs and hide to set on them and was lost for a good while. When I found her she was skin and bones because she refused to give up on the eggs or even get off them. (We had no rooster so no chance of babies) She was depressed for a good while after I found her and had to get rid of the eggs. This yr WILL be different for her!! We have a big fella for her (named "GET OFF THE PORCH!!")

My advice to you would be to go out and set with her...talk to her like I'm sure you already do..and just relax and figure it out between the 2 of you. Look at her comb, color, and weight...ask yourself if she looks like she could continue to stay healthy through another several weeks or if you think she would benifit more by waking up to some fresh lil' chicks stuck under her by 'santa' or the 'easter egg bunny'

Above and beyond what any of us on here have to say..this is between you and your 'Big Momma' ...I'm sure most of us will continue to stay subscribed to this thread to see how she is either way.

btw...it sometimes is hard and hurts to have to do the 'right' thing (as when you checked her eggs) but in the end it brings things to light that you might of never known.

The only 'mistakes' in life are the ones we don't learn from...then the ones we learn from are not mistakes they are lessons

 

[nanawendy]

Well said TasLaGi acres

 

[leshaker]

Day old sexed chicks are the answer! (At night time)

That is my experience! And what a lovely time it was!
Love and Light Always,
Cath.

 

[purpledonna]

 

[willkatdawson]

In my opinion it would be to stressful on her body to sit another 21 days and I doubt she would do it anyway. As I'm sure you've noticed they can lose a good bit of weight and I think some of their general well being from the lack of exercise. At some point she will realize these eggs aren't going to hatch and abandon them even if they are brand new eggs. I have a BO hen that has hatched eggs before and I've put day old chicks under her before to. I think your best bet and the best situation for your hen would be to find some chick as asap. Does your feed store have chicks this time of year? If not I'm willing to bet there's a BYC member somewhere near you with eggs in the incubator that would part with a few chicks. If you put chicks under this mother she will love and take care of them as if they were her own. In the mean time I would leave a few eggs under her until you decide what to do. If you remove all the eggs she may abandon the nest and you won't be able to place chicks under her. The great thing about placing the chicks under her is you won't have to worry about introducing new chickens like you would if you hatched them in an incubator. The mother does all the work for you and they are protected by her and accepted really quickly into the flock. Maybe you could talk to M McMurry and see what they will be hatching today and get an over night delivery. If they have chicks that are hatching that aren't already sold I bet they would be willing to do it. I'm sorry things didn't work out for you and your hen. We were all praying they would.

 

[MountainFarmPeeps]

I'm so bummed for you...I know your heart must be busting over this...please don't beat yourself up. You did what a lot of us would have, in fact, what a lot of us TOLD YOU we would do!

I agree that another 21 days would be brutal on this poor mama...I think some day olds and a bit of sneaking around while she's asleep would give her the suprise of a lifetime...and I also believe that seeing her with chicks, despite the loss of all those eggs, would mend your own heart considerably.

Big hugs and clucks going out to you from my family...we were so hopeful. But....this is life, we live and learn, now you have personal experience and next time you find yourself in a similar place will have the experience to help you know the risks and outcomes, plus, you now have the personal exp you need to give someone else good advice if they post with a similar trouble!

 

[jrleader99]

Thanks all for your comments, concerns and condolences. I think the hardest part (besides the stench

) was the two eggs that when I cracked them open had movement in the chick. That really tore my wife apart but like I posted last night they were no where near being ready to make an appearance. I think that they were at about the 1.5-2 week growth period.

I will have to look to see if I can find a couple of chicks nearby that I can substitute. She wants so badly to be a momma.

When I checked on her this morning, she had tossed 2 more eggs out so she is still on 6 eggs.

I did try to candle most of the eggs before I cracked them last night but they appeared completely dark. When I cracked those open they were filled with a very dark substance that was totally bad, some even exploded as soon as I cracked them.

I will let everyone know what is decided and if I can find some chickies quickly to substitute.

Thanks again for all of you!!! This place is one of the best places.

Oh by the way, my wife says that I am addicted to BYC. I think that it is because I know that she is addicted to Facebook!!!!

 

[nursemeh]

haha! I'll take a BYC addiction over Facebook anyday!! Its the opposite in my house, me BYC, hubby Facebook-hahaha!

Jrleader- you are doing a great job! If you are able to get day old chicks for her- great! If not- you know you've got a GREAT broody momma for the next hatch!!

Thanks for sharing all this with us other BYC addicts!!!

Mary