[princesslayer]

So I have one broody hen sitting on eggs and here's the situation this morning (day 21!):

Hen is squatting near the eggs eyes closed, looking like death, eggs cold. She's staggering and one is broken, chick visible inside and showing signs of life but membrane still intact. I decide to get it out, it looks like it's a day or so too young and gasping once a minute. Looks unviable.

I tried to get the hen perked up and eventually get her to sit back on everything.

Few hours later, hen has perked right up but eggs are cold and she's standing off them. I've decided they need to be warm so I've brought them in to find a warm place. Two are pipping. Hatched chick is def dead and I've removed it.

What next?! Can I keep them warm enough to hatch in next day or so? Would a heat lamp work overnight for eggs, then they can use it if they hatch? I have nothing else.

Thanks!

[Womble]

Well if the hen won't take them, and....

I have nothing else.

Then practically, I don't see what else you can do!  Just watch the humidity - perhaps lay a damp towel over the eggs?  Don't know what else to suggest really....

[Cosmore]

Yes, as the previous poster said, immediately you have no other option. But why not check the local paper/advert cards/feed merchant notice board for a cheap secondhand incubator, or go on to ebay/gumtree etc. and see if you can source one quickly? After all, an incubator  - even a small one, is a useful standby for such emergencies or if hens refuse to go broody as sometimes happens. 'Brinsea' is one make that comes to mind, but there are several makes/sizes available.
Good luck, hope all goes well.

[lord flynn]

ditto the above-if you are on FB is worth trying out poultry groups to see if anyone local might lend you one?

[Fleecewife]

Could you put some wheat in a soft bag, pop it in the microwave for a couple of mins, check the temp, then lay it over the eggs?  You'd need to keep a close eye on the temp as they don't hold heat for long, but as an immediate solution it might work.

[princesslayer]

Thanks all, three eggs I can hear chicks scratching about inside. How long from that stage to hatch, or is it as long as a piece of string?

[Rosemary]

Down the cleavage 

[ladyK]

Hi
I had a similar situation recently (though the trigger for broody to leave remaining eggs was that two had hatched and she took the chicks away for food). I had one egg pipping in the abandoned nest.

I didn't have an incubator either so I kept the egg warm on a warm water bottle, kitchen towels moistened with warm water for humidity and an upturned glass bowl as a cover which I kept dunking in hot water to warm up (in hindsight it was probably a bit too warm) I practically stared at the egg for 12 hours until it hatched successfully. 
(I have also heard of ladies carrying about to hatch eggs in their bra to keep them warm, as weird as it sounds it seem a good idea to me 

I only carefully opened the pipping hole a bit more, just enough to see that the chick inside was breathing. Then I spent some time googling and stumble on this guide http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching]
- as a result I kept well away from rushing things, which in hindsight was all-important (you may have killed the first chick by getting it out too early).

If you can keep them reasonably warm, and the membranes moist, have the time to keep a close watch, and stay away from rushing things, then you could be in for a good chance I think. Good luck! 

[Roxy]

An incubator or another broody hen would be ideal, but .....anything is worth a try in a situation like this.  How about the bottom oven  of an Aga or similar if you know of someone with one - perhaps with the door open though.  I have an oil filled radiator, perhaps if the eggs were placed under one of those, they would keep warm ......like I said, any idea is worth considering. 

[Marches Farmer]

I've known folks in a similar situation utilise an airing cupboard (with the boiler left on all the time and also an  ordinary light bulb (using a thermometer to ensure the temperature where the eggs were sitting was correct).  Do you have a neighbour with poultry?  Maybe someone would lend you an incubator for a few hours.

[princesslayer]

After carrying them round in my bra for half the day I have managed to secure an ancient incubator from a neighbour
Three are scratching and cheeping in the eggs, the other two are silent but they may be a day or two behind.

I think the first one had been crushed and wasn't ready to hatch. It was broken at the bottom end of the bird.

I'll keep a close eye on temperature and humidity and try and leave them well alone.

Thanks again all!

[devonlady]

Try to not turn them ps.  A just warm oven will do

[doganjo]

And PLEASE keep us updated - we're all watching this thread with 

[landroverroy]

How is the hen?
I had a similar episode some years ago when the hen collapsed just as the chicks were due to hatch.
It was only because I went to check her in the evening that I realised what the problem was. She was absolutely covered in red mites. Of course during the day you don't see them so everything appeared ok, and then they came out in force at night.
She recovered when I doused her in louse powder and moved her elsewhere. And since then I've always put a layer of louse powder or diatomaceous earth under the straw before letting a hen sit.

[Marches Farmer]

I lash together broody coops from old puppy cage panels, fireguards, twinwall polycarb ....  fondly called The Shack Collection.  Each one is "new" and can be hosed down after use.  The broodies are checked for lice before being set on eggs and set in the morining so if they do have any red mite they're gone into their daytime lairs in the original housing.