Day 18 egg under hen, very small chick in egg.

[z3lda3]

I’ve hatched plenty of chicks with an incubator and mama hen. Since I’ve had broodies, I don’t use the incubator. Anyway, Im a pro candler. I know what baby is supposed to look like in the egg, especially at day 18.
Mama has a clutch of 3, 2 of the eggs are perfectly on schedule. They fill most of the egg, a nice big air cell now. The 3rd egg…the mama is a leghorn, and daddy is either a bantam Cochin or a leghorn. The egg is white and when candling I can see the chick in there, moving a lot! Not frantic just active. I can see the beak opening and closing. Blood veins galore. But the chick isn’t even half the egg space. I marked the eggs, so if I’m off on my dates it can’t be more than a day. Have any of yall had this experience?

 

[Debbie292d]

I incubate a ton, and no, haven't seen that. Under a hen, sometimes some eggs may not be covered if she has a lot, so could be slower ones is all I can think of.

 

[z3lda3]

I incubate a ton, and no, haven't seen that. Under a hen, sometimes some eggs may not be covered if she has a lot, so could be slower ones is all I can think of.

Well at least I know I’m not crazy. Goodness, it looks like it’s 5-6 days behind. And I haven’t had a hen stay on the nest after hatch longer than 4 days. I can definitely put it in the incubator to finish if mama doesn’t, but will I be able to reintroduce it to its family?? What a pickle! If you have any advice please feel free to throw it my way!

 

[Debbie292d]

Well at least I know I’m not crazy. Goodness, it looks like it’s 5-6 days behind. And I haven’t had a hen stay on the nest after hatch longer than 4 days. I can definitely put it in the incubator to finish if mama doesn’t, but will I be able to reintroduce it to its family?? What a pickle! If you have any advice please feel free to throw it my way!

That's what I'd do though, put it in an incubator if the rest all hatch and it doesn't. It may be interesting if it hatches with the rest!

I don't let hens hatch anymore but when I did, twice I've put three day old chicks with a clutch of five day old chicks and it worked. These are silkies though so think they'd take a frog if I gave them one lol.

 

[z3lda3]

That's what I'd do though, put it in an incubator if the rest all hatch and it doesn't. It may be interesting if it hatches with the rest!

I don't let hens hatch anymore but when I did, twice I've put three day old chicks with a clutch of five day old chicks and it worked. These are silkies though so think they'd take a frog if I gave them one lol.

I’ve got a hen like that. A red sex link of all things! She’d raise a coyote if it’d fit under her. She just wants to mother anything and everything.
Well wish me luck!! I have no idea what’s going to happen. Just when I think I’ve got this chicken thing down, something happens and I’m confused AGAIN.

 

[Debbie292d]

I’ve got a hen like that. A red sex link of all things! She’d raise a coyote if it’d fit under her. She just wants to mother anything and everything.
Well wish me luck!! I have no idea what’s going to happen. Just when I think I’ve got this chicken thing down, something happens and I’m confused AGAIN.

Keep me (us) posted. You have me intrigued!