What should I do?

[FeralFeathers]

I have a hen that went missing a while ago and after days of looking for her, I finally came to the conclusion that somthing probably got her.
Until today I got a call from my neighbor saying she found my hen and that she was laying on eggs! I rushed over to see her with food and water and when she got up I noticed 3 of the 5 eggs she was sitting on looked as they might have started hatching or somthing. Anyways I didn't hear any peeping or see any movement. I'm no expert on egg hatching so I took a picture to see if maybe someone on here might know whats going on and/or if there is anything I could do..

 

[GodLovesU]

Give them back to her if she’ll take them. Does anyone else think that one might be shrinkwrapped?

 

[FeralFeathers]

Give them back to her if she’ll take them. Does anyone else think that one might be shrinkwrapped?

I didn't take them she's currently sitting on them I just took the picture when she got up

 

[GodLovesU]

I didn't take them she's currently sitting on them I just took the picture when she got up

Ok, good. I would keep an eye on the eggs (and potential chicks) to make sure that the eggs all hatch okay and that she is a good momma. It would also be a good idea to keep her in a contained area.

 

[FeralFeathers]

Ok, good. I would keep an eye on the eggs (and potential chicks) to make sure that the eggs all hatch okay and that she is a good momma. It would also be a good idea to keep her in a contained area.

Would it be safe to move her and the eggs back down to my house? Roughly how long should I watch the eggs?

 

[GodLovesU]

Would it be safe to move her and the eggs back down to my house? Roughly how long should I watch the eggs?

I wouldn’t disturb her. I would try to keep her contained though so she won’t leave. I would peek in on them every few hours for the next 1-3 days. Keep in mind I have never had a broody, I’m just trying to help.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Would it be safe to move her and the eggs back down to my house? Roughly how long should I watch the eggs?

Those eggs look possibly dead to me.. they are crushed and pecked from the outside.. very untypical for hatching eggs. None of those have zipped in a natural way. The white membrane is the freshest one and the dark one has been like that for a bit longer making it *probably* the least viable. The hen has been pecking at them, possibly trying to assist.

I would at least candle them and give them the sniff test to see if there's any obvious yucky smell (fresh eggs should not stink, but passed ones will start to within a couple days).. and if there's no blood vessels obvious in those membranes, consider pulling the membrane back a little to verify if they're still alive or have already passed. Can you see beaks sticking out anywhere?

My personal experieince with broody hens.. is that I can move them once chicks have hacthed.. but have not successfully moved them with unhatched eggs.. they usually go frantic trying to get back to their original nesting site. Each bird is an individual though and so your mileage may vary. If she's been gone from the flock without regular daily visits (undetected by you) then reintroduction may be a little brutal as she would likely have lost her place in the pecking order and be treated as a newcomer.. again noting that all flocks are also individual with varied dynamics and so it's possible things may be different for yours.

 

[Yardmom]

She is not going to be quick to leave the nest. Go ahead and reach under her. Take your cell phone flash light and shine it into the large end of each egg. If they are alive you will be able to see movement. If the chicks are alive, let them finish hatching, Then move her and the chicks to a safe place.

 

[FeralFeathers]

I wouldn’t disturb her. I would try to keep her contained though so she won’t leave. I would peek in on them every few hours for the next 1-3 days. Keep in mind I have never had a broody, I’m just trying to help.

She is not going to be quick to leave the nest. Go ahead and reach under her. Take your cell phone flash light and shine it into the large end of each egg. If they are alive you will be able to see movement. If the chicks are alive, let them finish hatching, Then move her and the chicks to a safe place

I wouldn’t disturb her. I would try to keep her contained though so she won’t leave. I would peek in on them every few hours for the next 1-3 days. Keep in mind I have never had a broody, I’m just trying to help.

I'm not going to move her, I wish I had known sooner on her whereabouts though so I could have been keeping an eye on her. I truly appreciate your help! Thank you

 

[FeralFeathers]

Those eggs look possibly dead to me.. they are crushed and pecked from the outside.. very untypical for hatching eggs. None of those have zipped in a natural way. The white membrane is the freshest one and the dark one has been like that for a bit longer making it *probably* the least viable. The hen has been pecking at them, possibly trying to assist.

I would at least candle them and give them the sniff test to see if there's any obvious yucky smell (fresh eggs should not stink, but passed ones will start to within a couple days).. and if there's no blood vessels obvious in those membranes, consider pulling the membrane back a little to verify if they're still alive or have already passed. Can you see beaks sticking out anywhere?

My personal experieince with broody hens.. is that I can move them once chicks have hacthed.. but have not successfully moved them with unhatched eggs.. they usually go frantic trying to get back to their original nesting site. Each bird is an individual though and so your mileage may vary. If she's been gone from the flock without regular daily visits (undetected by you) then reintroduction may be a little brutal as she would likely have lost her place in the pecking order and be treated as a newcomer.. again noting that all flocks are also individual with varied dynamics and so it's possible things may be different for yours.

Okay so the egg where the chick is visible is that the dark one you're referring to? As soon as I get back home I'll candle/sniff them. When I was out there I didn't see any beaks but I also didn't have much time before she was back on top of them I didn't want to touch them to much until I got some sort of information first. I'm not going to move her until after and if she's been around I sure ain't seen her I literally thought something had gotten her, but I do know that if she does hack any survivors she's been in her own little spot safe and secure from the rest of my bunch.