Who throws in the towel, broody or me

[fishermans wife]

This is our first time hatching chicks, and I had 2 broodys to help me! I put 4 eggs under one, 3 under the other . Both were perfect broody momma's. 2 chicks hatched under each hen 2 days early. One hen abandoned her last egg yesterday to show the ways of the chicken world to her chicks (thus all housework has stopped to watch...). So, I put that egg under the other hen who continues to sit on the remaining eggs, only getting up to poop and eat a little bit.

I candled very quickly a couple of days ago just to make sure none were clear as I hadn't done that before. All eggs have very distinct air cells (or whatever you call it) and the rest was dark. I saw no movement, but I only took a few seconds per egg, scared of doing something wrong. The remaining "sitter" sits up higher - and I often can see the eggs as she keep them toward the front, making me think they aren't warm enough. I think it is to allow her chicks to get under her.

It is now day 23 - should I keep letting her sit on them. I would be so thrilled if one or two more hatched. Does she know? Unfortunately, the ones I really wanted to hatch are the ones that haven't so far , but I am thrilled to get 4 fuzzy butts that are so cute I can hardly stand it! Thank goodness for digital!!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

That's a hard one. Odds are that all have hatched that are going to. I'm assuming that all the eggs started at the same time. I think I would give her two more days, they call it done. If four hatched early, then these are realy overdue already, but a couple of more day should not hurt anything. And if they are from separate flocks, it is possible genetics could delay some eggs hatching a bit. I read that in a paper on the University of Virginia poultry site.

Good luck!

 

[fishermans wife]

Thank you so much for such a quick reply! Wow, I love this site! I did set all the eggs on the same day. They are from the same person (local not shipped), but different breeds. The 2 frizzles, 1 maran and 1 EE hatched together. I have 3 EE's left to hatch. I will give it a couple more days or 'till momma decides she is done. I just don't want a rotten egg, but I don't want to throw in the towel early either! Thanks so much!

 

[fishermans wife]

Well, I threw in the towel, after candling, then trying to floating egg in water thing....I opened one to find just a yolk, a second one had a fully developed but dead chick (very facinating, but so so so sad

), and the third - a white milky substance....so 4 out of 7 on our first hatch ever - using 2 broodys who are turning out to be wonderful moms! Now here's hoping all are pullets