20 days out - 1st incubation

[AustralorpsAU]

Post updates!

 

[jkelly83113]

I will definitely try this after our 4H meeting this evening. I hope to see/hear something this evening considering it will be day 21. Or maybe even tomorrow morning. I am trying not to get too excited, but it seems I cant help it! haha

 

[adamNangel]

I am at day 18 taking into account 24 hr days I've heard to stop turning bUT I've heard to stop turning my eggs 4 days before is that true

 

[jkelly83113]

I took mine out of the turner at 18 days. Leave them alone until they hatch. (Thats what I have heard.) I am so excited to hear about your journey too! IS this your first hatch?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I am at day 18 taking into account 24 hr days I've heard to stop turning bUT I've heard to stop turning my eggs 4 days before is that true

Turning is very important early during incubation. Turning helps keep the yolk or developing chick from touching the insides of the shell where they could get stuck. Turning also helps body parts develop in the right places. But by two weeks for chickens the body parts have formed and a membrane has developed around the chick to protect it from touching the insides of the shell. You don’t have to turn the eggs after 14 days but it’s traditional to continue turning them until 18 days when we go into lockdown and increase the humidity. It doesn’t hurt to turn them later, it just isn’t necessary.

If you have an automatic turner that you can remove, do so. Many automatic turners have sharp corners that can trap a chick’s foot, wing, or head. You want to remove the hazard. Also when they hatch they make a mess. The first ones to hatch will poop everywhere and drag some of that gunk around that coats them when they hatch. Clean-up is a lot easier if you remove the turner.

 

[jkelly83113]

I had 4 chicks hatch last night!!!! I have 10 others who should be hatching soon!! Soooo excited!!!

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Congratulations on your new chicks @jkelly83113
Good luck for more soon, your hatched chicks will encourage the others to get a move on.

 

[jkelly83113]

I am verryyyy nervous, because the others haven't even pipped... (that I can see) is that normal??

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Sometimes you don't always see the pips, especially when the hatched chicks are knocking the eggs about. I have quite often thought eggs have not been pipped then the next minute a chick can be hatching. It can certainly happen though that some chicks get right up to the point of lockdown but fail to pip and hatch. Your doing great with your eggs!

 

[jkelly83113]

I am always hoping for the best!!! I am excited!!