Can someone please offer some advice/insight

[henry19952]

I have a broody hen sitting on 4 eggs. I have candled, and I am 100% sure that 3 were fertile on day 14. It is now day 23, and still no pips. It appears they are still alive by the large air sac in the shell.

Why are they not hatching? Could the humidity been wrong? They are outside in a nest of pine shavings. I am not worried about temperature, because the hen is always sitting, and it's Florida.

When should I remove these eggs and possibly do a dissection?

 

[mmaddie's mom]

I usually give mine a full week over and sometimes have been blessed by doing that! Good luck!

 

[henry19952]

mmaddie's mom :

I usually give mine a full week over and sometimes have been blessed by doing that! Good luck!

Well that gives me hope. I have to go out of town on saturday, which is 5 days over. I guess we will see what happens.

What is the absolute LATEST you have heard of chicks hatching?​

 

[drumstick diva]

Please don't rush to do an eggtopsy - many have regretted it because they found fully formed, live chicks. Maybe your temps weren't stable and that slowed incubation down.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Quote:
Agreed... what will it hurt if you leave them with the hen while you are gone? You might just come home to some new fuzzy butts with mom!

 

[henry19952]

Still... what was the latest known chicken hatch?