Why?Why?Why?

[greenthing]

I'm not having any luck.

1st - Last Saturday - I broke an egg open that has a developing chick in it.

2nd - Friday - One of the chicks under my brooding hen hatches out but dies while it's still wet.

3rd - Today - I go to check on the hen and she is really agitated. Why? Because something has stolen 5 of her eggs and there is a crushed egg with the half developed chick inside underneath her.

Now I only have 6 eggs left under her and I'm about to just give up. My brother works at a feed store so I asked him to see if he can find anyone who will let me borrow a bator. Maybe I can try to hatch the eggs that way. Am I doing something wrong? Please if anyone has any suggestion on what I could do better I would appreciate it very much.

 

[ozark hen]

I would separate her and keep her in a very secure place. You don't say where she is or if it is secure from predators?

 

[twigg]

You might want to consider a Broody Pen next time.

Just a small ark with a big nestbox, and enclosed run. Give Mom space to leave the nest to poop, etc, and supply food and water.

Meanwhile .... fingers crossed for the rest.

 

[greenthing]

She is still in the coop with the other chickens and probably more open to predators. My brother tends to think a snake might have gotten into the coop because none of the chickens were gone just the eggs. Could I put her in a dog crate in my shop and kind of cover it so that she is secluded and not too bothered by our movements?

 

[twigg]

Quote:
They are probably very close to hatching. Might not be a good time to move them unless you could stick 6 eggs from the fridge (warmed) under her, and move them to a hatcher. Then replace the eggs with chicks as they hatch (when dry)

 

[greenthing]

Thanks for the advice. I don't have a bator of my own so I'm going to wait and see if my brother can find one at his work. I know for sure that 2 of the eggs started on the 24th so if I do get a bator I might try to put them into it. I'm not really sure on the other eggs. I need to check the numbers on the eggs that are left. I candled all the eggs the 22nd so I have a faint idea of how far along each one was. I guess I’ll just keep waiting and watching and let nature take its course.