(wringing hands) Will they survive?!!

[MamaJohnson]

DH was moving a wood pile yesterday and discoverd a broody hen sitting on 14 eggs. I've known she was out there broody somewhere for the past week, but didn't know exactly where, neither did he. But instead of leaving the wood pile for another couple of weeks, he moved the nest (!!!) - picked up and moved the hen into the enclosed run (he says she pitched a royal fit), and brought all the eggs into the house. I didn't find out about this until hours later, and thought for sure by then the eggs would all have died, and Momma's broodiness would have ended.

Then last night, to just check to see if they had been fertilized, were growing, etc, I cracked 3 open (I have GOT to get a candeler thing!!!). Inside each were tiny little embryos that looked to be at least 10 days along, with feet and feathers. Oh, how sad, I thought. And then, in the bowl I was looking into, ONE STARTED MOVING!!

I rushed the other eggs outside, put Momma hen (who was looking to still be broody, given her attitude) and eggs into a brooder box (this particular box is just big enough for her to sit down...on the eggs!), closed it up, and started praying. Is it possible the eggs will survive? Will it be OK for me to keep her locked in the box (I'll let her out twice a day to stretch, eat, etc.), hoping she'll regain her broodiness and finish hatching them?

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

I don't know how they'll do - but I hope some make it! They are adapted to be able to make it through small spells without mama hen, but you should expect some losses with a few hours.

For a candler, I do pretty well with a bright LED flashlight I bought at TSC. Makes very little heat, and does the job!

 

[MamaJohnson]

Sniff.. I hope they make it!!!

 

[MamaJohnson]

Yesterday in the evening I let Lacey (that's what I call her) out of the box for just over an hour. She pooped an enormous poop, ate, drank, and I found her sitting flat on the floor. But she pitched a FIT when I caught her and put her back in the box. She didn't want me touching her at all. No surprise, I guess, but if she was truly broody wouldn't she have gone back on the nest on her own? I felt so bad, locking her back in there. I hope I'm doing the right thing.

 

[kelidei]

Quote:
Back in Febuary I had a broody on eight eggs in my husbands heated garage. One afternoon I went out and she had somehow gotten out of the brooder and she could not get back in. It was AT LEAST several hours since I had last checked her and when I felt the eggs they were cold (it was only 55 degrees in the garage). Still I put her back in and 10 days later I had seven chicks--- one egg didn't hatch but there was no embryo when I cracked it open a few days after all the others hatched--- so there is hope!

 

[MamaJohnson]

Quote:
Back in Febuary I had a broody on eight eggs in my husbands heated garage. One afternoon I went out and she had somehow gotten out of the brooder and she could not get back in. It was AT LEAST several hours since I had last checked her and when I felt the eggs they were cold (it was only 55 degrees in the garage). Still I put her back in and 10 days later I had seven chicks--- one egg didn't hatch but there was no embryo when I cracked it open a few days after all the others hatched--- so there is hope!

Oh, you lovely person, you! Thank you, thank you for the hope!!

I went back out last night after having let her out of the box for a break, and, to my utter joy, she was back on the nest!! No fight, no fuss, she went back on the nest by herself this time!! And she is still there this morning! With all my heart I'm hoping at least one of the remaining 11 eggs will hatch - I've had so many broodies that have abandoned the nest (so heartbreaking when you've got your hopes up!), and have never had the opportunity to see a Momma make it all the way through. So I've really got my fingers crossed for this Momma. If she's still on that nest tomorrow, I'll post pics to celebrate. Every day is something to cheer about now, as we get closer...