3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[LucyLynsted]

Hi

The first set of eggs we set under a broody came to nothing! But 3 weeks ago we put 8 eggs under "Betty" and she has sat patiently for the last 3 weeks, she chucked 3 eggs out about a week ago, so we guessed they were just bad eggs, so we were left with 5

 

By my reckoning they should hatch today but infact we were totally surprised when one lovely light fluffy chick was running around yesterday morning. Then there were 2 other beaks pipping away and 2 other eggs that show no signs

 

This morning me and my 2 young boys (9ys and 7yrs) were late for school as we were fascinated by one of the eggs cracking away, and Betty even helped a bit on some stuborn bits of shell, then with a big stretched out rolled this half fluffy half alien looking chick, who quickly hid under mum in the warm. We left the other pipping egg alone and went to school.

 

When we came home from school we checked the chicks, the first one has really got the hang of everything, even pecking the grass and corn, we had to make a little ramp for her to get back in to the cub as the jump was just a little too much. The newborn chick from the morning was very noisy and walking around very lost wanting it's mum!

 

Now to the worrying bit - the other pipping egg had not progressed any further and there is no movement at all and the egg has gone very cold. Do you think the fight out of the egg was too much for it? We don't really know what to do with it, if it is dead will Betty eat it?

 

The other 2 eggs haven't done a thing and I can't hear anything in there, one of the eggs sinks in water and one floats...is one a keeper and one not? but I don't know which way around?

 

Any help or advise would be great

[Redwing]

I'd shut the broody, chicks and eggs in the coop for another day or so, a broody will normally remain on the nest until all viable eggs have hatched, if there is too much going on she will get distracted and if the chicks wander from her they could chill or entice her away from the nest, bad either way

 

It sounds like the pipping egg dried out, gently drop some warm water around the pip to moisten it, place it back under the hen with the other eggs and leave her for another day or so

 

The newly hatched chicks can go a couple of days with no food or water so the fact that she wouldnt normally leave the nest isnt a problem