eggs didn't hatch.?

Question

I have a nest of chicken eggs and they did not hatch the hen sat on them the whole nine yards I checked one and it had a baby chick in it dead now my question is,,, I have been told that while eggs are being incubated if there is a thunder storm the eggs will not hatch is there any truth to this or just a old saying and what do you think could have happened we had one very severe thunder storm

Answer 1

Yes if a severe thunderstorm comes thru the hen will not sit on her eggs she is to frightened if there are more eggs let them sit for a few days yet and if nothing comes of them will best bet i to throw them away

Answer 2

LOL I have lived on the farm for 30 years and I never heard that one. Most likely the hen did not get the eggs turned enough. If she is a new mom she may not have it down yet.

How do I get hens to start setting on hatching eggs?

The most critical factor for inducing females of any bird species to set on eggs is the amount of daylight each bird is exposed to every day. The increasing length of daylight hours in the springtime stimulates hens to lay and roosters to begin mating. The additional daylight eventually stimulates the hen to "set" on the eggs when a sufficient number of eggs accumulates in the nest. If eggs are removed each day, the hen may never become broody and start incubating or setting in the nest.
After the day length reaches its maximum (June 21) the day length starts decreasing and egg laying and setting tendencies decrease until the shortest day of the year arrives (December 21). The cycle then begins all over again. In general, hens require about 15-16 hrs of continuous light daily to maintain good egg production. These seasonal factors have developed in all birds and most mammals through millions of years of natural evolution.

Hens can be be stimulated to lay or set on eggs during any season of the year if the lighting program is carefully controlled. They must be "tricked" into thinking that they are in the springtime. Place artificial lights in the house and control them with timers so that the day length is increased to about 17 hrs each and every day. Do not vary the day length or the hens will cease to lay and set on their eggs.

After the hen accumulates a nest full of eggs (a clutch), she instinctively starts setting and incubating them. The ease to which she accepts this incubation responsibility varies within and among breeds, strains, and families of chickens. Some hens have better "mothering" instincts, while others are not as inclined.

Almost all females are stirred into setting on the eggs if the day length is maintained properly and the environment around the hen is good. Provide the hen with dark, secluded areas in which to make her nest. In this way, she is not disturbed while setting on the eggs. The quality of the eggs are maintained until setting begins by replacing each day's good fertile egg with an artificial or infertile egg. When the hen begins incubating the eggs, all eggs in the nest can be replaced with the stored fertile eggs.



Good luck on the next batch.
G.G.

Answer 3

The hen needs to sit on the eggs continuously to maintain a certain temperature. If she comes off her nest, lets say to eat or drink, and they cool off, the chicks may die. The hen will get up usually once every few days to defectate, eat or drink hurriedly, then back on the nest. You may never see them do it. Also, some hens will lay more eggs than they can cover. If they can't cover them all, some or all will die. Take extra eggs away immediately. The best bet is to make sure the hen is comfortable, feels safe & secluded, and has access to food and water so she can stay where she is.

Answer 4

they weren't fertilized.....chickens can have eggs left and right,,good for eating but if they need to be fertilized......the storm? nope,,,,,,,