Will my egg ever finish hatching?

[Gossie]

My hen has been sitting on eggs for twenty four days now. She has one chick and she has been sitting on 3 eggs. As of yesterday morning, another of the eggs started hatching. There has been progress (I can sort of see the egg when the hen is moving), but nothing too significant (little tiny new cracks in the shell). I'm now able to see a little bit of fluffy stuff inside the egg. Is this egg ever going to hatch? I can't hear peeping and I never see it moving. Should I do something?

 

[GitaBooks]

Congrats on the chicks!

I'm sorry to say, chicks that stop trying to hatch, have probably died. We have this happen regularly, even with chicks partially out of the shell. I would give the little guy a hand and see if he is okay.

I hope everything turns out well!

 

[Gossie]

I went down there later today and couldn't find the egg! It's completely missing. I don't know where it went. The mother hen is separated from the rest of the flock, so no one else could have stolen it but her. Thank you for the help though.

 

[GitaBooks]

We had a mother chicken that apparently ate her chick, either upon its death or because she was trying to pick off the shell attached to the chick (we made it hatch too early). Whatever it was, the chick was gone and the cage was escape proof.

 

[Gossie]

The egg just appeared under the hen. Should I assist it? I've never assisted before, I'm afraid I'll hurt it. I'm afraid it might be dead too.

 

[chiques chicks]

I am one that generally doesn't help. I've seen hens help if help is needed. I wouldn't assist, but I know many would. It's 50-50 at this point.

 

[GitaBooks]

If the chick has not made it out now, it probably won't ever make it out. And if it does, it may have leg problems. It is your own choice if you want to help or not, but I can't help but try and give the little guys another chance.

Best of luck!

 

[Gossie]

A family member checked the egg for me and the chick was dead. After waiting a while to insure that is really wasn't alive, he buried it. It's so sad!

 

[GitaBooks]

I'm sorry.