Urgent! Chicken Egg, No Incubator!

[Hopefully]

I convinced my mom to let me return the eggs to the hens but here's what's strange: my hens are completely ignoring the eggs! So i made a little nesting box and guided them to it. They sorta pecked at the eggs, denting one a little, and then walked on. They didn't seem to care. These are bantams by the way. Will they eventually go to the eggs when there are more?

 

[tiffanyh]

Hens wont sit on eggs unless they are broody, which tends to happen in the spring. Kind of like cats go into heat, hens go broody. Non broody hens will not care for chicks, they will actually hurt them.

I would make/get/borrow an incubator. You can set the eggs aside for a few days in a cool place and build one, then start your experiment.

 

[Hopefully]

My mom doesn't want an incubator in the house. Would it be too late to show my science teacher tomorrow? They are outside (it's pretty windy) and hens aren't caring.

Either way, thanks for the answers! Everyone on here is amazing I liked the bra joke, lol but I think people would notice!!!

 

[Hopefully]

Since the eggs are being ignored, is it too late to put them back in my care? They've been out there for a while and feel slightly cold, is there still a chance?!

 

[georgialee]

I would just wait until one of your hens goes broody and then pick which eggs you'd like under her! That is the easiest way... hens know exactly what to do. That's what I'm planning on doing in the spring.

 

[Hopefully]

OK, thanks
I just feel bad that I ruined these future chicks' lives, but I'll be more careful next time.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! You can absolutely 'body incubate' chicken eggs!
I have only done it with eggs that had already pipped and needed finishing (ducklings and chicks).
I *usually* have have incubators and broody hens to do the job, but I've hatched many a chick and duckling in my 'cleavage', such that it is.
Good luck!
Lisa

 

[FenDruadin]

I've never tried it myself, nor known anyone who tried it, but I have *heard* that women in developing countries often hatch eggs by carrying them around near and/or under their breasts. I guess the humidity near the body must be pretty close to what a broody hen would provide... and the temp must be about right too.

Of course, you might end up breaking one... certainly riskier than an incubator... but I would love to hear how it goes if you try it.

And don't feel too badly about those chicks. Even under a broody hen not all the eggs will hatch. Chickens are "prey" animals, and as such, their survival strategy is to produce many more offspring than are expected to survive to adulthood. Nature is cruel sometimes. At least you tried.

And let us know if you try the "bra" technique (I don't think it was a joke--I think the poster was completely serious--and if they weren't, then *I* am). I'm curious how it would work out.

 

[tiffanyh]

Please dont feel like you've ruined these chicks life...there is not actual chicks in there....just fertilized yolk.

 

[Hopefully]

I can?! So it's not too late?!