Solitary chicken - need advice

[Adams Egg]

We put 8 eggs under a first time broody, however after 23 days there is no evidence of any pipping or hatching.

 

Is it best just to remove the eggs and shut her out of the GO in the run on her own?

 

Had considered getting some day olds but am against that as sourcing may be a problem and if she rejects the chucks I am not set up to keep them under a lamp, the would still be on heat when we go away.

 

Another option would be to get a couple of POL to go in with her and then introduce all three back into the adjoining run of four in a month or so

 

Any suggestions or issues with these options

 

Thanks

[chuckmum6]

What sort of eggs is she sitting on? If they are LF then I would leave them just a little longer. Put the eggs close up against you ear can you hear anything, tiny scratching noises?

I wouldn't introduce new birds to her as she will have been weakened by sitting, so may pick up bugs from them or not be able to defend herself fully. I would go down the day old route as if introduced carefully over night she may well accept them.

[sjp]

I've successfully introduced day olds to a broody once last year when she had only one chick hatch the again last week when she had a 100% failed hatch but she's an experienced broody plus I've got an electric hen and indoor brooding pen. you'd need to leave her sitting on the eggs until you can get day olds but not for to long in case the eggs have gone bad. if you go down that route you'll know in a hour or so at most if she's going to accept them or not

[miller30]

Hi Did you candle them I candle all eggs under broodys so I know they are gonna get something as early as day 3 then I can put a new batch under if I need to and if she was sat tight I would have left her my brahmas under a broody were 3 days late this year and if you put eggs to your ear you will hear like a crackling noise bit like rice krispies this means its starting or cheeping leanne

[Adams Egg]

There was no sounds coming or any sign of movement, the eggs are from a nearby farm so are various breeds. I suspect that she didn't cover them properly when she started them off.

I won't introduce day olds this time, if she were to reject them we're not going to be able to keep them on heat.

 

As she is alone is it best to take the eggs out after 25 days and then do a gradual reintroduction to the flock?

[Beantree]

Hello AdamsEgg. I'd candle the eggs just to make sure they are not very late, because I have just read on another forum of a hatch at 27 days under a broody. You need to select a broody over two years old and in peak condition for the best chance of success.

 

Re-introducing her can be difficult and we have made a mess of it in the past. She will be very weak and needs building up before introduction otherwise she will be bullied and enable to defend herself. The others will treat her as a solitary newcomer so you are best keeping her in a separate run and coop alongside them for a couple of weeks.