Weetamoo93
Songster
002 (my hens are numbered) is a first time broody of two years. She had seven eggs of the ten I placed under her make it to hatch day. First two started to hatch today, but when I checked they had died before finishing.
I removed the deceased chicks and carefully pulled away the shell, checking for signs of life. None. I noticed that their umbilicals either hadn't fully closed, or maybe were pushed back open. Both chicks had started zipping last I had checked (I try not to pester broody too much), so my thought is that she stepped on them in her inexperience? Photos attached of the chicks. The shells were crushed so the membrane was exposed, but not bleeding. These babies were good to hatch from what I can tell. I'm still very new to this.
Side note: how many eggs would you recommend setting under your broody? Is ten too many?
I removed the deceased chicks and carefully pulled away the shell, checking for signs of life. None. I noticed that their umbilicals either hadn't fully closed, or maybe were pushed back open. Both chicks had started zipping last I had checked (I try not to pester broody too much), so my thought is that she stepped on them in her inexperience? Photos attached of the chicks. The shells were crushed so the membrane was exposed, but not bleeding. These babies were good to hatch from what I can tell. I'm still very new to this.
Side note: how many eggs would you recommend setting under your broody? Is ten too many?