Time between first chick hatching and last

[chickencissy99]

My hen has hatched 8 chicks so far and and now, day 2, she is still sitting on 4 eggs. How long before I give up on those 4 and take them away?

 

[MGG]

My hen has hatched 8 chicks so far and and now, day 2, she is still sitting on 4 eggs. How long before I give up on those 4 and take them away?

Can you candle them and see if they're still alive? How long has it been since the last one hatched?

 

[chickencissy99]

Can you candle them and see if they're still alive? How long has it been since the last one hatched?

She's pretty protective right now, but we may try. It's been about a day or day and a half since the last one hatched. The other 7 hatched two days ago.

 

[MGG]

She's pretty protective right now, but we may try. It's been about a day or day and a half since the last one hatched. The other 7 hatched two days ago.

It's worth checking now then. The mama needs to get off of the clutch and lead her new babies to food/water if the rest are duds.

 

[chickencissy99]

It's worth checking now then. The mama needs to get off of the clutch and lead her new babies to food/water if the rest are duds.

We have them all in a large dog crate. The chicks are eating and drinking well. Mama is actually sitting on the eggs in a position where she can eat and drink while on the eggs.

 

[MGG]

We have them all in a large dog crate. The chicks are eating and drinking well. Mama is actually sitting on the eggs in a position where she can eat and drink while on the eggs.

Oh...well if she can eat and drink while on the eggs she'll start to poop on them, which is not good. She should have to walk at least a couple feet to eat and drink so she poops while she's up.