It's now day 22 in the broody coop...

raeburg · « **on:** October 16, 2008, 15:43 »

...and nothing has happened. I've candle everything and there's no sign of beaks in air sac or movement. How long should i give them before I give up on them? Broody girl is still quite happy to sit on them

Vember · « **Reply #1 on:** October 16, 2008, 15:49 »

I'd give them another couple of days :?

Is the hen purring at all? normally when she can hear movement she starts to encourage them out by talking to them

Sarah

woodburner · « **Reply #2 on:** October 16, 2008, 16:07 »

If they are dud, she will chuck them out when they start getting smelly, so still sitting is a good sign.

Bodger · « **Reply #3 on:** October 16, 2008, 16:12 »

No its not. :shock:

Jug of warm water. Float the eggs in it. The duff ones will sink. chuck them out. Of those that float, some will stay still after the water has settled. The ones with live chicks in ( if any) will rock and move eratically. Put those back under the broody. :thumright:

woodburner · « **Reply #4 on:** October 16, 2008, 16:44 »

Quote from: "Bodger"

No its not. :shock:

It's better than if she's chucking them all out

I'd give them another day before disturbing them to check. Did you count the day you put them under her as day one perhaps? It's a common mistake.

raeburg · « **Reply #5 on:** October 16, 2008, 20:31 »

Thanks all. I'm pretty sure one is dud - looks like soup floating in it. Today would be 21 (not counting the day they went under her). It's hard to tell if she's purring at them, she constantly purrs when she's not broody! I've never heard her make a really load noise, just a constant burble. It's fustrating cos at 2 week they all looked good.

babe · « **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2008, 21:02 »

id definately give them a few more days. 21 days is not 100%. they can hatch early or late.

by candling you should see dark with a larger airsac.

raeburg · « **Reply #7 on:** October 16, 2008, 22:04 »

4 are definitely dark with a large uneven air sac

raeburg · « **Reply #8 on:** October 17, 2008, 09:21 »

4 floated but didn't seem to move. I ditched the one that sank.

raeburg · « **Reply #9 on:** October 19, 2008, 17:38 »

Still no sign of anything. I've resigned myself to them all having failed during the last week. What's the latest anyone has known chicks hatch? Should I just remove them and keep chucking the hen out the nest? Any chance she might take to the 10 day old hatchling from the incubator?

Vember · « **Reply #10 on:** October 19, 2008, 17:54 »

Real sorry about that raeburg

I have successfully given a hen 2 x 2week old Guinea Fowl so I suppose there is a chance. At the time she also had 3 x 5 week olds - I was amazed she took them :shock:
As I think I may have said before it's down to the hen really, you know her better, try her and see what happens :?
If she starts purring and rosey then she'll be ok

Sarah

raeburg · « **Reply #11 on:** October 20, 2008, 09:58 »

Hi Sarah
Tried the chick with her and she just tried to peck lumps out of it, despite making all the right noise to it. Oh well. We'll try again in the spring

Vember · « **Reply #12 on:** October 20, 2008, 10:07 »

That's a real shame Raeburg

Some hens just seem to have all the right instincts in them

Have you taken all the eggs away from her?

She'll prob have a good moult now, I know mine have been doing feathers everywhere :roll:

Keep us updated with the little one

Sarah

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It's now day 22 in the broody coop...

Vember

Bodger

Vember

Vember