Struggling to hatch last of eggs

[SmithCochins]

My son (7) has two cochin pullets and a cockerel, which he raised from youth for his 4-H project. One pullet went broody just over three weeks ago.

This pullet, Maya, was a very determined brooder, and never left her eggs. His other pullet, Lizzy (a frizzle), continued to pop in and out of the coop and spent her days socializing with the cockerel. Somehow, all of Lizzy's eggs (she usually lays one a day) ended up joining the pile under Maya. The pile of eggs continued growing throughout Maya's setting period.

Maya hatched her first eggs at the beginning of this week, and continued her devoted sitting while attending to her new chicks. Five others joined the first, and Maya was still sitting on the remaining eggs and caring for the chicks up through yesterday. Meanwhile, Lizzy joined Maya in sitting on some of the eggs and cuddling the newly hatched chicks, and Robbie the cockerel had to be separated from his lady friends due to aggressive behavior towards the chicks.

This morning, a seventh chick was born. This one definitely looks like a frizzle (making Lizzy her probable mom). Strangely, Maya turned a bit savage with this one and then, she abandoned the rest of the eggs. Lizzy has since given up interest in the eggs and in the chicks, and left this new little one on its own. We took the little thing and have been keeping it warm. It seems completely healthy and is doing well.

We tried reintroducing it. While Maya welcomes all of the other little ones, tucking them under her wings and between her legs, she began ferociously pecking this one when it tried to join her.

Since Maya has now completely abandoned the nest, we've the eggs. Some of the eggs felt quite chilled (we're in Florida, but Maya left them just after the seventh chick hatched, about 6 hours ago). We do see signs of pipping in several of them. I'm reluctant to invest in an incubator, since the eggs should be right at hatching time and may or may not even be viable. My son has laid them under his shirt, on his chest, while he watches a movie. This is obviously not a good long-term solution, and I wonder if anyone has other suggestions for aiding the eggs.

Thanks, in advance, for your patience and willingness to share your experiences. We're very new to raising chickens and are pretty ignorant.

 

[SmithCochins]

There are signs of further pipping in the gathered eggs!

 

[forgetful]

If they are now pipping, I would go ahead and fire up the incubator. There is a chance they could hatch without it, but the added humidity will greatly aid them in hatching. Six hours won't kill of chicks at the verge of hatching.

 

[SmithCochins]

Thank you! Unfortunately, we don't own an incubator, so we would have to go out and purchase one. I will do so if we must, but am not certain that we can afford it (I haven't priced them).

 

[forgetful]

Oh, I'm sorry! I misread your original post and thought you said you have one. At this point in the process, I would simply watch and see what will hatch. You could maybe try lightly misting them to raise the humidity, and placing them on top of a covered heating pad.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thank you! Unfortunately, we don't own an incubator, so we would have to go out and purchase one. I will do so if we must, but am not certain that we can afford it (I haven't priced them).

Do you have an empty aquarium by any chance? You could put them in there with a light for heat and a bowl of water to help with humidity. A box or small tote might do as well, I'd just be more leary of the lamp around those. You'd need the temp to hold around 101F That's all I can think of for a spur of the moment attempt. (LG still air incubators at TSC usually run somewhere between $40-$60- They definitely aren't the best for incubation, but it's about the most common spur of the moment incubator you can buy.)

 

[SmithCochins]

One chick is still making small pipping sounds. The other I'd hoped to see hatch (a beak is clearly visible through a small hole in the shell) has not made any noise for quite some time. I've set them in a damp, warm towel, with a spot lamp shining down on it. I have a meat thermometer set up in the center of the "nest" and am trying to keep it at a steady 95 degrees, which is what I've read is optimum. Is it better to err somewhat on the warm side or the cool side? It is difficult to maintain the temperature in this makeshift incubator!

 

[forgetful]

Remember that they rest for long periods while trying to hatch. I think you are doing an excellent job in giving them the best chance possible. I would say slightly warmer? Someone could correct me on that though.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

One chick is still making small pipping sounds. The other I'd hoped to see hatch (a beak is clearly visible through a small hole in the shell) has not made any noise for quite some time. I've set them in a damp, warm towel, with a spot lamp shining down on it. I have a meat thermometer set up in the center of the "nest" and am trying to keep it at a steady 95 degrees, which is what I've read is optimum. Is it better to err somewhat on the warm side or the cool side? It is difficult to maintain the temperature in this makeshift incubator!

I'm not sure what you are reading. In artificial incubation of chicken eggs the temps for a fan forced incubator are a recommended 99.5F The recommended temps for a still air, which is what a make shift incubator would be, is 101-102F taken near the tops of the eggs.

 

[Hatching]

If you haven't already, and If they are light enough colored eggs I would also candle them and discard those where are clear, that way you're not waiting for infertile eggs to hatch after the pipped egg hatches