Day 20--Help!

[EmmaKnight]

Hello chicken friends! It is 12 hours into day 20 and the 8 eggs inside the incubator have not pipped yet. I am worried they might be dead because I thought eggs hatched on day 20. The temperature has been the same, the humidity is around 75-80%, and the only time I opened the incubator was on day 18 (the thermometer was in the water) and today for a split second to see if there was any pipping (the glass was fogged up and the humidity went down to 76% and the temp didn't really change). Before I put them into lockdown, they were moving like crazy. Do I have to worry about anything? Are they still alive? Are they just late? Please help! D:

 

[theuglychick]

They tend to stop moving as much right before hatching because they are in position. Or at least mine do. Last batch all of mine started hatching on day 21, including pipping. If by the end of day 21 you have no pipping, I would candle again and smell-check them.

 

[theuglychick]

What is your temp and what kind of incubator are you running?

 

[kevm2017]

Hatch time is 21days and earlier if temp is to hight not recommended and later if temp is to low not recome ded either. I think humidity is to high, my chicks are on lock down day 19 and I only raise humidity to 65 which is the ideal. Might go up to 72 but I am worried I stop turning them and lock them 4 days before not 3 days before, they are due on the 18th evening so I just left them there for now only. In your case I would just try to lower just a little bit humidity so they wont drown. Just my opinion not tu sure on that one

 

[makmm]

From the reading I've done 21 days is average for chickens. Although they can hatch from 19 days to 23 days, and some people say as long as 28 days Just let nature take its course. Right now I'm on day 28 of a incubation and no one has hatched yet. I think I'm going to call it and dispose of them tonight. But my incubator has had a crazy high and low temps, too...

 

[EmmaKnight]

What is your temp and what kind of incubator are you running?

My incubator temp is at 101.5-102.0 (recommended temp and it's gotten me this far so I think it's good) and the humidity is at 75-80% (as read online)

 

[EmmaKnight]

They tend to stop moving as much right before hatching because they are in position. Or at least mine do. Last batch all of mine started hatching on day 21, including pipping. If by the end of day 21 you have no pipping, I would candle again and smell-check them.

Ok thank you!!!

 

[EmmaKnight]

From the reading I've done 21 days is average for chickens. Although they can hatch from 19 days to 23 days, and some people say as long as 28 days Just let nature take its course. Right now I'm on day 28 of a incubation and no one has hatched yet. I think I'm going to call it and dispose of them tonight. But my incubator has had a crazy high and low temps, too...

Thank you!!!!

 

[EmmaKnight]

Hatch time is 21days and earlier if temp is to hight not recommended and later if temp is to low not recome ded either. I think humidity is to high, my chicks are on lock down day 19 and I only raise humidity to 65 which is the ideal. Might go up to 72 but I am worried I stop turning them and lock them 4 days before not 3 days before, they are due on the 18th evening so I just left them there for now only. In your case I would just try to lower just a little bit humidity so they wont drown. Just my opinion not tu sure on that one

The temp got me this far so I thibk that it is fine and the humidity is what I have read online and with other people

 

[EmmaKnight]

What is your temp and what kind of incubator are you running?

I have a still air incubator