UPDATE.Help and advice needed - broody hen/ chicks/eggs and messy nest

[Patchworkjo]

Hello.
I am a total newbie with hatching eggs, but I have had hens for years, and I seem to be anxious all the time that I am doing it wrong.

The Broody hen has been excellent and I know I should just leave her to it but I feel I have to give eve in a run adjacent to the other hens so that she can see her, but she is in a separate coop and run. The only access to the coop is by lifting the lid. On day 18/19 two healthy bantams hatched from 2 of the shipped mixed bantam eggs nothing else has shown any signs despite the hen being a fantastic sitter. Today when adding water she got of the nest to defend it and her chicks and I could see 3 eggs and what looks like either a broken egg or poo. I didn’t get a good enough look to know for sure. So here are ALL the questions I really want someone to help with
1) should I clean the nest and take the opportunity to to check the eggs (it is day 21 now) or leave it be?
2) yesterday I had the door to the run open for her to poo but one of the chicks tried to explore and it panicked the hen (she was very loud) so I shut the door for her to keep the chicks in. She did poo but away from the nest and I cleared it out. Should I reopen the door?
3) in the panic yesterday she managed to throw the eggs about and one hit the metal food bowl with a clang. Is this as worrying as it feels?
4) Will I ever sleep again without worrying about it all???

Sorry for such a long post but I could really do with some expert advice.
Thank you

 

[cluckadoodledoo13]

Congratulations on the 2 that have hatched so far! I had the same problem, but my hen got bored. She was sat on 12 and i ended up with 4 remaining eggs after she attacked the nest. I’ve got 3/4 chicks now. If she leaves the nest again i would have a closer look and see what the mess is. When she leaves the nest, if it’s obstructing the other eggs or exploded egg funk has touched them then i’d probably get rid as gunk sinks through the membrane and makes them non viable.

 

[cluckadoodledoo13]

Also maybe keep the door shut until they’re about 3 days old and ready to go outside with mum, that’s what i would do. Obviously make sure she has water and food and they do also.

 

[cluckadoodledoo13]

If the dropped egg wasn’t broken and didn’t look damaged, it should be fine. At that late stage it shouldn’t be a problem if there’s no visible marks. Mine rolled out of the incubator at day 18 or so and were completely fine.

 

[Chicken Kosova]

Hello.
I am a total newbie with hatching eggs, but I have had hens for years, and I seem to be anxious all the time that I am doing it wrong.

The Broody hen has been excellent and I know I should just leave her to it but I feel I have to give eve in a run adjacent to the other hens so that she can see her, but she is in a separate coop and run. The only access to the coop is by lifting the lid. On day 18/19 two healthy bantams hatched from 2 of the shipped mixed bantam eggs nothing else has shown any signs despite the hen being a fantastic sitter. Today when adding water she got of the nest to defend it and her chicks and I could see 3 eggs and what looks like either a broken egg or poo. I didn’t get a good enough look to know for sure. So here are ALL the questions I really want someone to help with
1) should I clean the nest and take the opportunity to to check the eggs (it is day 21 now) or leave it be?
2) yesterday I had the door to the run open for her to poo but one of the chicks tried to explore and it panicked the hen (she was very loud) so I shut the door for her to keep the chicks in. She did poo but away from the nest and I cleared it out. Should I reopen the door?
3) in the panic yesterday she managed to throw the eggs about and one hit the metal food bowl with a clang. Is this as worrying as it feels?
4) Will I ever sleep again without worrying about it all???

Sorry for such a long post but I could really do with some expert advice.
Thank you

Im telling you,
Leave the hen alone untill tomorrow, and don't worry about the broken egg that will not affect the other chicks to hatch, not at day 21. And make sure the other hens do not go close to her because it will affect her and she can leave the eggs alone. The hatched chiks will be fine for 48 hours. Hope you will get good hatch but believe me tomorrow morning you will see a lot of chiks if the eggs were fertile.

 

[Patchworkjo]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

It is a totally seperate run so no other hens can get near so that isn’t a worry. I think I have forgotten what it is like not to worry......

She is sitting tight so I am going to leave her and check in this afternoon. I don’t think there will be more chicks after all the commotion but I can always hope. 4 of the 6 looked good on day 13, one looked like an early quitter, and the other really developed but I couldn’t decide if there was a blood ring or not. Of the other two I think one had a saddle cell (but it didn’t move so was attached?)

I want them to have the best chance. I’ll leave the door shut today (windy and raining hard here) so not the best day for outdoors.

This forum is a great place with so much knowledge and kindness. So glad I joined x

 

[Patchworkjo]

An update. She got up and was worrying at the door so I got a look. She has a really upset tummy and runny poop. I cleaned the nest, checked the eggs, some dirt but not too bad. On a quick candle 2 look sloshy, one not so sloshy, and one good, maybe internal pip? As there was no smell or cracks I put them back. Hen, chicks and eggs all now snug on a clean nest.

She was so distressed and angry at me. She looked like a charging turkey!

Could the change to medicated chick feed be the cause of the runs? If so should I swap them to non medicated. Or is it because she drank yesterday and I think she hadn’t the day before?

This is a real rollercoaster.........