Wildwomanhomestead
Hatching
- Feb 21, 2024
- 3
- 5
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So I let a broody hen incubate eggs during the winter, a risk I know. I candled them on day 16 and all was good. I was planning to move mama and her eggs to a private brooder on the evening of day 17. Unfortunately in the afternoon of day 17 she was kicked off her nest by other hens and the eggs got cold for a couple hours, it was about 25 degrees Fahrenheit that day. So I figured it was a loss but moved them anyway hoping for a miracle. Today was day 23, still nothing. I figured they were dead but wanted to confirm as I was considering getting chicks for her to adopt, but hoping maybe they were alive as I know with lower temps incubation can take a little longer. I’ve been reading that with a hen incubating, humidity is less of an issue so I figured I’d go ahead and candle and see what was up. I went out to the coop after dark so I could candle easier. I was super careful to be gentle and keep eggs in the same position as I slid them out from under her. Much to my amazement, the first egg was alive and moving and sounded like it was pecking at the shell. Though air cell seemed extra big, like a third of the egg, not sure if that means something? The second egg… as soon as I picked it up, my thumb went right through the side of the shell! The chick peeped loud at me. I think it might have pooped on me too from being startled. Definitely got chicken poop on me in that moment and that’s the only thing I can think of. Like runny white chick poop, not broody mama poop. Anyway, It was alive! I immediately felt absolutely terrible and put it right back. I barely touched it. Did I just kill it after all that it’s survived? Or was it in the process of hatching and the shell was already cracked? I know you’re not supposed to interfere with hatching and I never would’ve intentionally. I’m not sure what, if any consequences there are for what I’ve done?
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