Update-help hatching eggs please (hurry)

[ChickyGal]

Hi everyone, I need help. I have a hen that hatched out 5 eggs and left 2 behind. For 2 days I have been moving the eggs with her when she moves, and she sets for awhile then moves on again. I've found them cold several times. This morning the moving games began again and this time she sets for less time, each time. So I picked up the eggs and I can hear both of them cheeping inside. They are very near hatching I do believe. I don't really know what to do about it, I hate to let them die. I did bring them inside and have them in a makeshift box with a heating pad. A towel between the box and the pad of course and then pine shavings also. I don't know if I need to turn them or what? Leave them be? I'm making sure that they are not getting to hot and all that. Any suggestions? Should I maybe just hold them to keep them warm? Should I just put them back with her, keep moving them around with her and see what happens? I know that probably seems silly but I really don't know what to do and I sure don't want them to die.
Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[cheepchicks]

Can you candle them to see if they have pipped into the air pocket? This might help others to give you better advice. I am a novice and hesitate to give any advice at all. Good luck

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Hi,

Until someone more knowledgable answers, here is what i can tell you. Don't turn them. If you are hearing cheeping and they are close to pipping, they need to be in position. i sure wish you had an incubator so you could watch the temps and humidity. i would personally be worried about too much heat hitting the eggs on just one side from the heating blanket.

Anyone else?

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Hi Chickygal,

Here is another suggestion. Go to the search function on this forum and look up homemade incubator. If you have a foam box, a light bulb for heat, sponges to provide humidity, and some kind of thermometer, you may be able to throw something together. i (personally) would not try to put the eggs back with the hen, if she keeps leaving them.

Colleen

 

[marie_martin]

I agree, I would just see what I could come up with in order to provide the right temp (about 99.5 and a bit of humidity, maybe a heat lamp and a moist sponge in a tub with a lid to hold in the heat and humidity. maybe make a rice bag and heat in the microwave and lay over the eggs to keep them warm, but make sure it is not too warm? I would have to try. If they have made it into the air cell and you keep them warm, I would imagine they have a pretty good chance. Just make sure to get some type of humidity in there with wet sponges or something so that once they pip they wont dry out. Good luck.

Marie

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I can tell you this much if they were mine I would try to rig up a makeshift bator like airheart says...foam box and a reg. light bulb will do in this pinch...you need to worry about humidity...a wet warm towel should do....a plastic cup with warm water stuffed with a washcloth in it out of the way anything to keep humidity going....And do NOT turn the eggs!!!..they have already gotten into position to pip and turning is a no no...they will die for sure...put the heating pad on low and stuff it in the foam bator would work too...just worry about humidty....

 

[ChickyGal]

Thanks everyone for all your help. I don't have a Styrofoam box but I do have them bundled up good now with a light bulb, and a warm wet sponge. I'm constantly watching them for progress. I bet this takes a long time. Whew, I'm a nervous wreck!

One more question, one of them is really quiet. Would he be just taking a nap/resting? The other one is pecking against the shell and cheeping constantly.

Thanks again.

 

[silkiechicken]

I have a incubator/ hatcher so I just use those. In the makeshift way though, this is what I would do. Take a medical thermometer and measure the temperature of the surface of the heat pad where the eggs are sitting. See if you can't make that to be 102 deg F to make up for the fact the top part is exposed. Then, put a blanket over the box with a heat pad and make sure that the temperature at the heat pad does not get too hot. Then spray a bit of water, just a bit, in on the towels with the heat pad and wait. Don't touch them or turn them as they need to be positioned right. Some turning might not kill them as normally they get kicked around, but excessive turning can be bad.

Just monitor the temperature and give it two days. Don't intervene unless peeping becomes faint or non existent, else you risk causing the chick to bleed to death if it is not ready. If you can hear peeping, they have internally pipped. Good luck!

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
The one pecking at the shell has good luck on it's side. Give that one at least 24 hrs to pip and 24 hours after pip to hatch. The one who is quiet. If it was peeping, it is probably resting and you've got two days to wait there too. Good luck. The best you can do now is keep temperature steady and leave them alone.

 

[ChickyGal]

Well my internet was off for about 20 minutes, just now came back on so if I don't post back with progress reports you will all know why, seems like my ISP has trouble that never ends. I'll let you know something as soon as they hatch out or whatever happens. Thanks again for all your help.