Help! New to chickens... Day 26!

I posted on another forum here, but I'm concerned about my eggs. It's day 26 and I have had only 2 hatch and that was yesterday. Both needed some help to get out, the membrane was really thick. I have floated the others and they seem viable, but no movement, no internal or external pips. Is there anything I can do for the other eggs? I'm freaking out...

It's good you had a few hatch at that late a date. 25 days is the normal time given for folks that ask "how long should I have hope they hatch?" You could wait another day but then it's time to give up and accept it's over.

For them to be hatching this late your incubation temperature was far too low. I'd say close to two degrees low. On your next hatch use same thermometer and measure in same area as you did this one only get the temp 1.5 F higher. You'll see a world of difference.

What's weird is that at the beginning of incubation, I had a hard time keeping the temp down. It kept getting warmer. Then when I took my egg turner out, the incubator cooled to low 90s and I've been doing everything I cn since then to keep it warm

Are you using a still air incubator?

I've got a person coming to pick up a bird so will just say a few things on temp, thermometers and still air incubators.

Temp- if late hatching it's too low. If early hatching it's too high.

Thermometers- never trust them. Thermometers are garbage, the only value they have is indicating if temp is steady, going higher or going lower. Other than that what is the base temperature? You've no idea as no two thermometers will read the same for a price point under $100. People will purchase from a bin in store and get one of two that read the same. So what if both of those were off? See what I mean? The only budget thermometer you should trust is a medical unit from your medicine cabinet. Use that to calibrate whatever unit your using or adjust the temp by experience of last hatch. Zero it in by hatch results. Your basically there. One more hatch to fine tune and that thermometer you have is golden. I suggest you measure in same spot as this hatch and incubate 1.5 F higher.

Still air incubators- Work awesome if you realize the air temp is drastically layered in them. Fan incubators are too (my fan is slowing and getting worse). If your eggs are in a turner then measure at top level of eggs and incubate at 101.5 F. If you manually turn or are laying on side as it's near hatching then measure at top level of eggs 100.5 F. This is with accurate thermometers.

Yeah I am.

I posted above, one more spelling error to correct...sec. OK, hope that helps. Folks picking up a cock bird are pulling up the drive now. My hens will be so happy and maybe their feathers will grow back soon.

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!