hen/ chick question, quick advice needed please!

china

china

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iv just been to check on my hen as she is on her last three days and she was not on her eggs, i think she is in such a routine of coming out once a day she was waiting but the bed is abit of a mess, she has water there, so im assuming she has given up, some of the eggs feel cold so not holding much hope for them, i have switch the incubator and warming it up, should i move them or wait and see if she settles back down, it may have been coz she heard my seeing to the other chickens, what temperature does the incubator need to be, i dont have a hygrometer but have two small pots of water in, the pots you use to put calpol and that in for kids.
help
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I personally would leave them and see if she goes back to them, Mum tends to know best
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IMO i think it's a bit late to be having them, it's getting a bit cold, we've been chucking our broodies off their nests for a little while cos it's too late.
 
im not holding my hopes up for a great hatch as i couldnt see much when candling, whens the best time to start next year, i might incubate next year instead
 
I hope they will be ok for you,I personly dont put water in my incubator to hatch chicks I get better results without.I show mine and I usually start hatching November so that they will grow big enough to show next year,you need tokeep them under heat for a long time though at this time of year and it works out very expensive
 
That's fine if you're showing but we have are own place and just have them wondering around. They will let you know when it's time next year, it seems to me the younger ones leave it a bit late to go broody.
I personally would not incubate (I have and it's alot of work), if you've got a broody, it's so much more fun watching mum bring them up into the world, show them what life's all about, keep them warm and keep them out of trouble.
I had a chicken hatch out 7 guinea fowl this year, they are bigger than her now and she is still taking care of them, she's promoted them from going home and sleeping in the ark to moving into the barn and roosting with all the others.
 
Incubate at 37 oC (or 100f)
I have incubated lots of clutches this year with great results!!!
Water....as breezing says I too had better results without BUT this only works if you can resist the temptation of opening the lid before everyone has hatched!
 
My bantey was rubbish, only ever managed to bring one chick to adult hood and he was more nasty than his father before him
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So no advice, just good luck
 
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