22 days, no pips, no peeps

[khayes667]

We put a mix of chicken eggs (including 3 bantams) in the afternoon of April 13th making later today 22 days of incubation. No peeps or pips from any of our 8 eggs I candled them last on day 16 and all were looking great! day 18 before i locked it down there were even some wobblers! I took the eggs out on day 18 to remove the turner and lay shelf liner. Placed the eggs in a bowl with a towel over them (all of 30-45 seconds?) and then placed them back in. Humidity has been steady around 65-66%. Should I give up hope? Feeling so sad at my first go at this. What could've gone wrong to make all 8 (of different breeds) not hatch?! I'm too nervous to take out and candle as I've heard that disrupting the lockdown could shrink wrap them, but also what are the odds they're even going make it at this point?

 

[Saraschickens]

What was the temperature during incubation? In cooler temperatures they'll hatch slower.
Don't give up hope, and don't open it.

 

[khayes667]

What was the temperature during incubation? In cooler temperatures they'll hatch slower.
Don't give up hope, and don't open it.

During incubation, it ranged from 100.2-100.5. Our house was on the cooler side (68-72) so maybe that had something to do with it too. How many days would you give them to make some moves?

 

[Saraschickens]

That's good on the temp, but the ambient room temperature does affect the incubator. I'm new to incubators, but have done a lot of research. I've normally hatched under hens for many years. Either way, late hatchers is very possible! I'd definitely give it more time. I'm sure you'll get more people chiming in soon. Everyone here is amazing!

 

[casportpony]

I'm too nervous to take out and candle as I've heard that disrupting the lockdown could shrink wrap them, but also what are the odds they're even going make it at this point?

Welcome to BYC. Can you take a picture of you candling them?

During incubation, it ranged from 100.2-100.5. Our house was on the cooler side (68-72) so maybe that had something to do with it too. How many days would you give them to make some moves?

What incubator?
Does it have a fan?
What was the humidity for the first 18 days?

 

[Ridgerunner]

What incubator?
Does it have a fan?
What was the humidity for the first 18 days?

Good questions.

Hot air rises which makes the fan question very important. In a still air (no fan) the temperature will vary according to elevation so it matters where the eggs are and where the thermometer is. If it has a fan that is less of a concern.

During incubation, it ranged from 100.2-100.5.

How did you measure that? Was it with a calibrated thermometer so you can have confidence in it or was it some sort or factory preset. The thermometers and hygrometers that come with the incubator are often wrong.

Our house was on the cooler side (68-72) so maybe that had something to do with it too.

As long as the temperature is correct in the incubator it doesn't matter what the temperature is somewhere else.

How many days would you give them to make some moves?

I'd wait until Wednesday before I tossed them. Give them every opportunity.

 

[Saraschickens]

I'd wait until Wednesday before I tossed them. Give them every opportunity.

How interesting... you would toss the eggs on day 24? I've heard so many times of eggs hatching after that long. Do you only toss after candling or floating and deciding they're dead? Trying to learn as much as possible. I'm new to incubators as well. Does this only apply to incubators, or would you also throw out on day 24 when hatching under a hen? Thank you!

 

[catsndogs4us]

I usually hatch at home and have most hatch on day 20 or 21. I hatched at school this year where the temps tend to be lower and not as consistent. Nobody hatched for me until Day 22 even though some were bantams and I know we had one hatch day 23 or 24 in one of the other classes. I would give them a little more time.