Urgent Help Needed - Chicks in process of hatching, one surviving

[NikiRy]

I'm sure this is already posted but I really need a direct answer quick.
I have a broody hen with a surprise clutch (don't ask, long story!). I went to move her off and she'd already hatched a healthy one, so I brought it in and set it up in a brooder. I saw one had pipped and left it under mom. I just went back and found it did not survive fully hatching. I'm afraid to move her and candle the rest, but is it possible to gather what's left and place them in an incubator, and if so, can the incubator be set so it doesn't move the eggs, assuming they're in position to hatch? I've incubated before but it was from fresh eggs and I just followed basic instructions, and I don't have that incubator anymore so I'd need a new one. I've never dealt with chicks (possibly) this close to hatching. I'm really afraid of moving them, but I don't want to leave them under mom because she's not in a safe area. Should I just leave her be and trust the rest of the process? In the meantime I have this poor baby alone, and I didn't see any other eggs pipping when I checked for the one that was. I'm just not sure what to do.

 

[SilverBirds]

Is it possible to move mom to a safer spot and give her the baby and the rest of the eggs to finish incubating? I've found that all my broody hens will settle into a new nest easily once a baby has hatched.

 

[NikiRy]

Is it possible to move mom to a safer spot and give her the baby and the rest of the eggs to finish incubating? I've found that all my broody hens will settle into a new nest easily once a baby has hatched.

Yes I do have a spot! So it's ok to move the eggs you think, even if they're close to hatching? I'd read they rely on an air pocket and I'm just nervous of jostling them too much.

 

[SilverBirds]

Yes I do have a spot! So it's ok to move the eggs you think, even if they're close to hatching? I'd read they rely on an air pocket and I'm just nervous of jostling them too much.

It's not something that's generally recommended, but I've done it many times without any issues before. There is a chance that she may try to return to her old nest or even stop being broody, but all of my mamas have always quickly settled back onto the nest after seeing the eggs and hatched babies. I usually get a basket to carry the eggs and line it with something soft, like bedding or a towel, and very carefully place the eggs whatever way they were facing into the basket. You can carefully candle them as you go to check for viability. Then I move them to the new nest and go back for the broody. A lot of people are concerned that the eggs may become shrink wrapped, but in all my years of hatching with hens it has never happened to me. Just work quickly and carefully.

 

[NikiRy]

It's not something that's generally recommended, but I've done it many times without any issues before. There is a chance that she may try to return to her old nest or even stop being broody, but all of my mamas have always quickly settled back onto the nest after seeing the eggs and hatched babies. I usually get a basket to carry the eggs and line it with something soft, like bedding or a towel, and very carefully place the eggs whatever way they were facing into the basket. You can carefully candle them as you go to check for viability. Then I move them to the new nest and go back for the broody. A lot of people are concerned that the eggs may become shrink wrapped, but in all my years of hatching with hens it has never happened to me. Just work quickly and carefully.

Ok, I tried moving her and the eggs with help so we would work fast. Got her in a nice enclosed spot and she lost her mind and kicked down the plywood barrier (it wasn't tightly secured of course), broke one of the eggs that thankfully wasn't developing. She went right back to the other spot and was PO'ed not seeing her eggs there so I moved them back. I guess I'm just going to have to leave this in nature's hands. Unfortunately the viable eggs I did see with a flashlight look to be only halfway through incubation. So now I'm stuck with a lone baby... Ugh... I have a soft duck toy in there to help keep it calm. The hatchery I can order from is a week out on delivery. I think I'm just SOL. I'd already called local spots that sell chicks and they're all out, because of course they are lol... I appreciate your advice, sincerely. I do have an incubator on the way that should be here tomorrow. Problem is I don't officially know how far along these babies are, it's just a guess.

 

[NikiRy]

It's not something that's generally recommended, but I've done it many times without any issues before. There is a chance that she may try to return to her old nest or even stop being broody, but all of my mamas have always quickly settled back onto the nest after seeing the eggs and hatched babies. I usually get a basket to carry the eggs and line it with something soft, like bedding or a towel, and very carefully place the eggs whatever way they were facing into the basket. You can carefully candle them as you go to check for viability. Then I move them to the new nest and go back for the broody. A lot of people are concerned that the eggs may become shrink wrapped, but in all my years of hatching with hens it has never happened to me. Just work quickly and carefully.

This is a Brahma by the way, in case you're wondering how the heck a chicken knocked down a plywood door. She's sweet as pie but she's not messing around I swear

 

[Luv Ducks]

This is a Brahma by the way, in case you're wondering how the heck a chicken knocked down a plywood door. She's sweet as pie but she's not messing around I swear

Is there any way that you can secure the area that she is in? I would think they will hatch under her since she already hatched one. I have had a staggered hatch of my own but ducklings this past May with them being 7 days apart. It took 5 days of seeing but not touching and now they are inseparable. Good luck with your eggs. I also have hatched eggs with a home made incubator using a styrofoam cooler, a 40 watt reading bulb shining on them that was a hot one, a cup of water for humidity, with the lid on the cooler and a thermometer in it. I turned the eggs by hand and was able to hatch out half of the ones I had in there. Good luck with your babies. I also put a mirror in with lone babies so that they don't imprint on me.