We put six fertile eggs under our broody bantam cochin on the evening of September 22nd--exactly 14 x 24 hours ago this evening. Not sure if that makes this day 14 or 15. Five of the eggs look the way they are supposed to look: they are 90% dark with a tiny amount of veiny part showing plus the air cell. But Egg "C," which seemed to have a small amount of porousness at the top (pointy part) and also a bit of poop on it, looks small, like a 10 day old chick or even smaller. It's jumping around a ton though. I'm worried about it and sad. Any information about this? Has anyone had a situation like this? I'm a first timer and this is a sweet and exciting experience for our family.
As long as you are seeing movement, I would leave it there and hope for the best, while preparing for the worst. There is really nothing you can do! 100% hatches don't happen everyday so don't kick yourself if this one doesn't hatch. It does sound like the rest are doing well so I would still consider it a good hatch if you end up with some chicks from the deal.
I just had one too, and it WAS normal, except on day 20 peep it was malposiotioned and drowned since it peeped at bottom : ( but probable due to late candling when it should have been lockdown I have candle pics in bottom of article https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101 the thread to this article is... https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/704328/diary-notes-air-cell-detatched-shipped-eggs come over and introduce yourself!
HEChicken is correct, 100% hatches don't always happen. It might hatch just fine, it might not. Just keep your fingers crossed and keep an eye on it. Good luck!
@ Hechicken: "Hope for the best and prepare for the worst" That's really good advice. I was wondering if I could have any hope at all, but it sounds like these little guys (er, hopefully "gal") sometimes make it.
@ Sallysunshine Thanks for the reminder--I will NOT candle after...is it day 18 that they go into lock down? Today, Monday, it's day 16/17. Maybe I won't even candle tonight.
Too much candling is not really good for the eggs either. temps fluctuate a lot when you remove the eggs & place them against the light. I usually candle somewhere between day 7-10 & when I move them into lockdown. I don't bother them other than to turn them the rest of the time. If the eggs go past day 22 without pipping I sometimes candle again just to see if there is still movement & to see if there has been an internal pip. If I see a baby wiggling away in there it goes back in the bator. If I don't see movement I will usually use a knife or a needle to pip the air cell & check the color of the membrane. If it's white & wiggly give the baby more time in the bator. If it's turning yellow or brown your baby is likely dead already. I finish peeling more of the shell away until I can tell for sure before tossing tho because I have found babies starting to shrink wrap this way before as well & was able to save them.
