If you can hear cheeping, it is breathing. If it is only pipped and not zipped, I would leave it alone. Every egg is different. There is no set rule on how long it is supposed to take. There are too many factors involved... temperature, humidity, parent history, handling of the egg...
Hatching IS nerve-wrecking!! I can tell you that on my first hatch, I had a chick pip and zip and cheep away, but didn't break through the membrane. I decided to leave it alone, and it ended up dying in the shell. This is my second hatch and I had a chick pip yesterday. When I got up this...
I set my 41 eggs on the 12th in the afternoon. Silkies, Bantam Cochins, French Marans, D'Anvers, and a Silkie Mutt Surprise. I'm not candling at all this time. Just letting them go until day 18. For those who are using Hovabators with fans, what humidity are you using for days 1-18? How...