THERE'S A DINOSAUR IN THE COOP...Hatching again, PICS.

[duckyfromoz]

Dont worry too much yet.. Its early days- and with the warmer weather we are having here now- they should be fine. I had a broody duck leave the nest last weekend when it was raining. After about 5 hours when I took the eggs inside and put them into the incubator. I candled before putting them in and saw no movement at all and thought the worst..but after a few hours when they warmed up again all was good. Candle them in a few days to see how things are going again - but you should find they are OK.

 

[growinupinfl]

I agree that there may still be hope I have heard of hens being off the nest all night then still hatching. Give it a try then, what else is there to lose?

Good luck,

Christal

 

[Ellie]

I have had a broody get back in the wrong nest before for several hours. No harm was done and chicks hatched.

 

[guinea fowl galore]

Thankyou so much everyone, I will candle the eggs this monday ( day 7 ) to see if there is any development.
I have another question.
Is it normal for her to be sleeping all the time? this morning when I went down to the coop she still growled at me when she saw me first and when I touched her but she kept closing her eyes and falling asleep. her comb and wattles are still a red colour but her face around her eyes is a more pink colour. so is this normal or is being broody taking it's toll on her? what should I do?

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
Ditto. I don't know how long mine was off the nest, but the eggs were ice cold when I got home. Out of the eleven eggs nine hatched, one was clear and one was an early quiter. I think you still have a really good chance for a nice hatch.

 

[kathyinmo]

I think you have a good chance of a good hatch still. In the middle of winter I had a Silkie locked out of her nest for hours, and she still hatched most of her eggs.

Ya know (about being sleepy), I don't really remember if my broodies did that or not. I do know that by the time they hatch they are pale in the comb and have weight loss.

I sure hope it all works out for ya!

 

[guinea fowl galore]

I am going to go down now and check her for a tick but if she doesn't have one what else could be wrong?

 

[Kittymomma]

They can just get really run down when they're broody, which can also make them more vulnerable to parasites like lice/mites and worms. Look around her butt fluff and under her wings really well, if she has mites/lice you should be able to see them. Worms are a bit harder but you could take a fecal sample (no mistaking brood poo!) in to the vet and have a fecal float done, or just treat her for worms. It's not a bad idea to just treat them when they're broody because they do seem more prone to overloads and also because by the time she starts laying again the withdrawl time will be over.

I usually give my broody girls a scrambled egg every couple of days while they're on the nest. It's a nice high value treat and even the most determined tranced out of the girls will scarf down an egg. I think it helps keep them in better condition, especially the ones that only get off the nest every couple of days.

 

[Qi Chicken]

I think your hatch will be fine. She has only been on the nest a few days so I don't think she is getting depleted just yet. I know people offer their broodies hard boiled egg and such while they are sitting to keep their strength up. We had one girl that would eat on the nest and another that would not. They go into this strange little trance state, when you take them off they just puff up on the ground like giant marshmallows. Like "I am still sitting on eggs, I am still sitting on eggs I am still sitting I am still sitting OH!! No I'm not!" Then after awhile they'll get up and stretch their legs. The sleepy thing is probably the broody trance or wishing you would go away (sorry!)

I would lay off on the candling. Mother Nature kind of has a way with these things. Too much interference usually doesn't help things along. Momma will know what is up with the eggs. If one is bad she will probably push it off to the side.

I am rational and calm and collected because this is not my momma hen! Good luck! I'll subscribe to be sure that I see the little ones!

 

[guinea fowl galore]

sorry I have taken so long to update you all but the silly internet decided to play up.

When I checked her over for ticks and lice I noticed that she was VERY thin. I didn't think she had been eating much but now I am sure. So, basicaly she hasn't eaten hardly anything for 6 days. I now have her on a special diet of the most fattening foods a chicken can eat. I am mixing up...
Oat poridge
wheat germ
wholegrain bread
and tuna cat food
as well as her energy drink I am giving her every few hours...
a teaspoon of honey or sugar
a squeeze of lemon
half a teaspoon of rice flour
all in half a cup of water, giving her a few eye droppers full at a time.

does all this sound good? is there anything else I should/shouldn't be giving her.

her name is chicken josephine by the way.