what should i do with these eggs

[sydney5646]

guys i need help…i’ve had two hens sitting on a nest for weeks for one chick to hatch overnight tuesday and then after being in the box i came home friday and they weren’t in the box but on the floor with the one baby and the eggs felt cold but i put them back into the box and they stayed in for the rest of the night and apparently stayed in when everyone went outside this morning and today again were off the nest when i got home today…i figured the rest of the eggs were done for so i was going to move them but now i’ve picked up two and they’re peeping at me…i don’t know if i should just put the hens back in and cover the box so they can’t leave until we pull them out or maybe start the eggs now? (idk if they’ve been in there too long) or i also have the option of a reptile heat lamp inside but i don’t know if that’s better or worse if anyone knows what is my best move please give advice

 

[GodLovesU]

I would put one hen back on the eggs and leave the baby with the other hen.

 

[MGG]

guys i need help…i’ve had two hens sitting on a nest for weeks for one chick to hatch overnight tuesday and then after being in the box i came home friday and they weren’t in the box but on the floor with the one baby and the eggs felt cold but i put them back into the box and they stayed in for the rest of the night and apparently stayed in when everyone went outside this morning and today again were off the nest when i got home today…i figured the rest of the eggs were done for so i was going to move them but now i’ve picked up two and they’re peeping at me…i don’t know if i should just put the hens back in and cover the box so they can’t leave until we pull them out or maybe start the eggs now? (idk if they’ve been in there too long) or i also have the option of a reptile heat lamp inside but i don’t know if that’s better or worse if anyone knows what is my best move please give advice

Pull the one chick and brood it inside until the rest hatch. Hens could have been adding eggs up until just recently, you'll want to candle and check them but wait until after you pull the chick and the hens are back to setting well. As new chicks hatch pull them right away until the eggs are all done. You won't be able to put the chicks hatching now back with her but they can keep any that hatch at the end.

 

[BDutch]

If a chick is alive and strong enough to go out to eat and drink, the broodies normally choose the one that is alive and leave the nest. Sounds like a staggered hatch. (Avoiding it next time is best - read more about natural breeding with broodies).

For now there are several options.

• As mentioned above
• Let the broodies choose (and the eggs die)
• Seperate one hen with the one chick, move her to a setup where the other can’t see the chick and other broody. No garantee it will work, but it might.
  
  I would choose this last strategy.
  Discard eggs that didn’t hatch after a few days and let the broodies choose if they want to raise them together or not.

 

[Ridgerunner]

i don’t know if i should just put the hens back in and cover the box so they can’t leave

One hatched Tuesday and others are peeping now so a staggered hatch. Next time start all the eggs you want to hatch at the same time, mark them, and remove any that don't belong on a daily basis. It is a lot less stressful that way.

There is no great solution but with two hens you have an option. Lock one back on that nest so she cannot leave and see if she will hatch some more eggs. She might, she might not. Move that other hen and chick far enough away so the hen on the nest cannot hear them, she is more likely to settle down that way but it may already be too late.

Another option is to buy or make an incubator for those eggs. You don't have much time. Without time to adjust it can be hard to make an incubator with that reptile light. But you can try.