No sign of any chicks

[mandi plus five]

Hi

I have 12 orpington eggs purchased from ebay under my big broody orpington, everything was going fine, it is day 21 today but no sign of anything, I haven't candled, just let nature take its course, however on inspection tonight, most of the eggs don't feel very warm and some are soiled, is there any chance of them hatching and how long should I leave the orp sitting. Should I try candling. This is our first try at hatching and I am feeling quite a failure at the moment. Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Many Thanks

Mandi

 

[Davidd]

Hello, i would candle them if you can- that way she is not wasting her time and energy sitting on nothing
At day 21 you should be able to hear them in the egg- but they can take a day or two longer-especially if you have got the first day wrong- hope she gets something out
regards, David

 

[mandi plus five]

Thanks David

but as if to confirm my doubts, she came off the eggs last night and wouldn't go back on, she looked absolutely awful, so I think more important that she gets fit, although my Maran has sat on them, so will give it a day or so and see.

 

[Davidd]

Hi, i would dust her with louse powder and wash her vent area- she should recover if she has given up- try to get some good food into her.
regards, David

 

[Anonymous]

you seen any lice or red mite on her, if she looks terrible, maybe they were sucking her blood 24/7 and has had to come off the eggs. Just a thought, hope this helps.

 

[mandi plus five]

Thanks for the advice, have checked her over and no sign of any lice/mites

Maybe me just being over cautious, she just looked very pale, however she is back in with the other girls now and has taken a nice dust bath today, and her comb is definitely pinker, she just looked exhausted, never realised it could be this stressful!

Mandi

 

[victorias poultry]

12 large fowl orpington eggs would probably be to many for 1 broody hen. I tend not to give a broody more than 8 eggs at a time.

 

[Anonymous]

How disappointing! Poor dear sitting all that time. I usually candle at about I week so the hen doesn't need to sit on anything that's going to go bad. Shipped eggs are always a gamble, at least here in the States. Out of the 18 I put in my incubator a week and a half ago, only 9 showed signs of development at 1 week.

I also have a very small,heavy pottery dish that will fit in a corner of my nest boxes. I give my hens a bit of feed and a drink of water every day or so - some days they just fuss - other times they attack the feed like they're starving. Just an idea for next hatch - my girls don't look so worn out when I do this.