Are my eggs resting or have they died???

[Offshoreorca]

I think the humidity got too low, do you think that they will still hatch?

For me I think the humidity was running a bit high. All you can do it lockdown and wait it out - if they hatch, they hatch. I'm on Day 21 and had no movement day 19/20 and now two are in the process of hatching. I'm watching closely incase they need intervention, but even though I am worried it's best for me to leave things be right now.

 

[JaeG]

The only time the eggs will wriggle is when the chicks are rotating inside the shell to get into hatch position. After that they grow a little more, the air cell draws down and they prepare to pip internally. From internal to external pip is around 24 hours. From external pip to unzipping is anywhere from 12-36 hours (up to 48 for ducklings). It's a long, slow, delicate process and intensely nerve wracking for those of us watching from the sidelines. There's no need to panic.

 

[Rory the Chicken]

Thank you

 

[Rory the Chicken]

One of the eggs has pipped on day 19, hopefully the rest will pip either tonight or tomorrow on day 20.

 

[Rory the Chicken]

Thank you for your support, I will keep you updated.

 

[JaeG]

How exciting! You'll be checking them every 5 seconds, and spend most of your day staring at them, just waiting for something to happen. This is the toughest stage so just be patient (as difficult as that is - believe me, I know).

 

[Rory the Chicken]

2 of them have pipped and when I whistled to them, one of them cheeped. I am getting really exited.

 

[JaeG]

You won't sleep tonight.

 

[Rory the Chicken]

Another one has pipped but two have pipped upside down, facing the bottom of the incubator. Do I need to roll the egg round so that they can emerge safely?

 

[nao57]

I had this same issue with my cochin and silkie eggs. Day 20 came and went yesterday with no pips or movements. Then between last night and this morning two eggs pipped. I don't know the outcome of the hatch yet as they aren't out of the woods - and I suspect some humidity issues - but just to let you know to hang in there!

How do you spot the pips? Are they loud enough to hear?

Or...?