Day 18 Lockdown - Only one egg moving

[Dgrif5]

Apologies for this, but this is my first time hatching and we've made it all the way to day 18. I've just taken out the turner and added some more water, as well as swapped the eggs to their 'hatching' section of the incubator. However, I noticed that one of the eggs was wobbling on its own slightly, which I've taken as a good sign, as it's been wiggling slightly now since yesterday! The other eggs however, haven't moved a muscle. I candled them very briefly as I was swapping them over, but couldn't see any movement within (though I didn't see movement in the wiggling one either, so it may just be my poor observational abilities), though the air cells seemed to be doing well for the most part (more on that later). Should I be worried? I've heard that chicks can just die around this time, does that mean only one of my 5 eggs is still alive, or could the others just be very still for some reason.

Additionally, one of the five eggs is showing a much smaller air cell than the others, that's not 'dragging down' even half as much, and staying relatively level. the rest of the egg seems the same dark mass with slight veining that the others are showing, so i'm not sure what to make of that. It seemed the same size as all the others when I candled on day 14.

Any insight or assistance would be greatly appreciated. As I said, this is my first hatch and I'm nervous as anything!! I've barely slept the last few nights worrying about them.

 

[sourland]

Patience ! What are you going to be like by day 21 ?

 

[Dgrif5]

A nervous wreck probably! I'll be fine, our cats been a little ill the last few days as well so that's probably what's got me on edge. She seems a bit better now, so I should be fine in a day or so!... hopefully... maybe. Eh, we'll see

 

[RoosterML]

Apologies for this, but this is my first time hatching and we've made it all the way to day 18. I've just taken out the turner and added some more water, as well as swapped the eggs to their 'hatching' section of the incubator. However, I noticed that one of the eggs was wobbling on its own slightly, which I've taken as a good sign, as it's been wiggling slightly now since yesterday! The other eggs however, haven't moved a muscle. I candled them very briefly as I was swapping them over, but couldn't see any movement within (though I didn't see movement in the wiggling one either, so it may just be my poor observational abilities), though the air cells seemed to be doing well for the most part (more on that later). Should I be worried? I've heard that chicks can just die around this time, does that mean only one of my 5 eggs is still alive, or could the others just be very still for some reason.

Additionally, one of the five eggs is showing a much smaller air cell than the others, that's not 'dragging down' even half as much, and staying relatively level. the rest of the egg seems the same dark mass with slight veining that the others are showing, so i'm not sure what to make of that. It seemed the same size as all the others when I candled on day 14.

Any insight or assistance would be greatly appreciated. As I said, this is my first hatch and I'm nervous as anything!! I've barely slept the last few nights worrying about them.

At day 18 I don’t think you should be seeing veins anymore. Should just be a black spot. Not all eggs will move. Also don’t panic if it takes 24 hours from pip to zip.

 

[Dgrif5]

Thanks for the reply! They look a lot like the day 18 photos from this article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ion-through-incubation-of-chicken-eggs.47879/

 

[Toothpick]

No worries. Some of my eggs were rocking and rolling, some were still and silent. I didn’t think 1 was even going to hatch at all but sure enough all within a couple hours it went nuts and popped out. The hardest part of incubating is having the patience to just watch.

 

[Dgrif5]

Well, it's nearly day 20 now (set them around 2pm in the UK), and one hatched overnight! It's currently doing its best to play football with the others, but hopefully it doesn't throw them off too much. At least 2 of the other 4 have pipped, but it's hard to see the last two so you never know! they pipped last night, so they should hatch by the end of today, correct, or can it take longer than 24 hours? just want to know if I need to be concerned if there's nothing by the end of the day

 

[RoosterML]

It can take alittle longer. I would resist the urge to help. Enjoy

 

[Dgrif5]

Thanks I'll reign myself in!