I have noticed that 2 of my broody hens eggs are hatching too early. One of my hens hatched 4 baby chicks that were 4 days too early and all of them died. Two eggs hatched 3 days too early and the 2 baby chicks lived. I am noticing that the bodies are developed but smaller in weight and their heads are EXTREMELY small. A chick hatched yesterday and its eyes were closed shut and she cant open her eyes. Has anyone ever experienced a hen whose eggs hatched too early? Why is this happening? Did your baby chicks that were hatched early survive?
So far this year, I have had about 16 broody hens and all of them have had successful hatches. Its just these 2 broody hens are having trouble. I have a total of 6 broody hens sitting on eggs as we speak and Im getting worried that their eggs will hatch early. All of them are in individual private brooders that are closed and locked shut, so there is no type of interference or other activity in the brooders. The only activity is when I check on them to make sure that they have food and water and when I have to add food and change out the water, they get nervous and defensive and want to attack me and scatter their eggs. Could the eggs be breaking, thus making the eggs hatch too early? Im so confused and worried.
So far this year, I have had about 16 broody hens and all of them have had successful hatches. Its just these 2 broody hens are having trouble. I have a total of 6 broody hens sitting on eggs as we speak and Im getting worried that their eggs will hatch early. All of them are in individual private brooders that are closed and locked shut, so there is no type of interference or other activity in the brooders. The only activity is when I check on them to make sure that they have food and water and when I have to add food and change out the water, they get nervous and defensive and want to attack me and scatter their eggs. Could the eggs be breaking, thus making the eggs hatch too early? Im so confused and worried.
