Setting hen behavior..

[Pegasus667]

My hen was setting on 8 eggs then there was only 6. Now 1 egg hatched and I was checking for more babies and another egg broken and she was eating a partially formed chick.

 

[Mrs. K]

There is an old adage, "don't count your chick until they hatch". The reason being is a lot of eggs don't hatch. I would expect that there was something wrong with that chick. It is not uncommon for an egg or two to break in the nest. Some hens are clumsy, some shells have thinner spots.

Do not interfere, especially at hatching time, it upsets the hen. A lot of problems are caused with good intentions. You may only get one chick. If you want more, it is easy to get chicks this time of year, and slip a couple more under her in the deep dark of night. Chickens can't count, and if you do it right away it should work.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

My hen was setting on 8 eggs then there was only 6. Now 1 egg hatched and I was checking for more babies and another egg broken and she was eating a partially formed chick.

Were you checking daily and removing any new eggs laid by the other birds?
Did you do any candling during the incubation period?

 

[Pegasus667]

Were you checking daily and removing any new eggs laid by the other birds?
Did you do any candling during the incubation period?

No she is alone. And I didn't candle them