Day 21 and nothing yet.................

[tootsey]

Hi, new to this, if anyone can give me some advice I would appreciate it.
This is my first attempt to hatch eggs. Im using my only hen olive. I have 9 eggs under her and this is day 21. Nothing so far yet. On day 19 I heard what sounded like two seperate 'taps'. Since that I have heard nothing. Olive has done a good job sitting on these, she barely has been of the eggs at all. I went out to check on her a few minutes ago, and lifted her feathers gently up at the front. I can see all the eggs, no cracks or holes started, so I lifted one gently and tapped on it, not hard, nothing.I noticed that the shell had went quite coarse, and thin. Does that mean anything???? I am getting very worried. I have been reading here for the past few weeks and I know hatching can sometimes be over the 21 days. Someone give me some advice. All I can think about is eggs and chicks

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

Don't worry. I have hens hatch chicks on their own all the time, and I don't keep track but sometimes it takes way less than 21 days and sometimes way more. If it would make you feel better you can candle one to see if the embryo is still alive. Look up candling for more info. This is what I do:

I take a Sharpie and mark the side facing up on the egg with a slash mark. Pick the egg up slowly and carefully don't turn it 180 degrees. The hen is supposed to be doing this an ODD number of times everyday and you don't want to disturb this cycle. Put it on the face of your flashlight with the line facing up. Make sure you see a dark blob inside. Now slowly turn it 90 degrees. If the blob moves, there is no blob, or just one blood vessel that just looks like a line then the embryo died. If the blob holds its position then it is alive.

They should be fine, but if you find any dead embryos take them far away from the house and leave them there. If you aren't sure just leave them under your hen and they might hatch and they might not.

Good luck, and I hope everything turns out OK!

 

[mondotomhead]

I know its hard to wait. I went through the same thing with my broody, Betty. Her chicks hatched two days after I thought they would. I could hear very, very faint peeping when they hatched. I thought I was hearing things!

Also, when it gets dark tonight, reach under your hen, get an egg and candle it. It should be all dark if there is a chick in there. If you can see through the egg it was never fertile, or there are dark lines or bands with alot of "clear" the chick never developed.

Good luck and let us know.

 

[tootsey]

I am feeling really bad for Olive who has done all the work, if at the end of it she does not have a little family. I am too scared to candle them in case I damage them or turn them some way I shouldnt. I didnt think this would be such a hard thing to do. I would still like someone to tell me about the shells on the eggs. When they were put under her they were in good shape. I have handled eggs all my life, so know a good egg from a bad shelled one. At day 21 stage at least one of them has went coarse, brittle quite rough and the shell has gotten a lot thinner. Is this normal????????

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

I don't know about the shells, but don't be scared to candle them.

I was twelve the first time I had to candle eggs from a hen. I was scared, but my mom told me that if the eggs really were bad then the hen would be at risk from predators seeking the eggs. It all worked out fine in the end and the babies were healthy. Don't worry you can't damage the egg.

The reason she turns her eggs is so that the embryo will not stick to the shell. If you do turn it, come back later and do it again, and it should be fine.

Don't worry, everything will work out, even if it is in a strange way. You can wait to candle the eggs and they should be fine. I would do it if they don't hatch in a week or so.

Good Luck, I'm sure it will be fine.

 

[mattblackburn]

candle them at 21 days if there is moving liquid in side (substantial mostly liquid) my guess is bad. If they are mostly dark with a clear developed air cell at the end you may be in business

if your roosters doing his work you ought to at least have a couple good ones if she was faithful

 

[tootsey]

I've got chirping

I am so happy something is happening!!!!!

 

[LovinChicknFarmn]

How exciting! We're on Day 17. Waiting, waiting, waiting...

 

[amariemommy]

I take a Sharpie and mark the side facing up on the egg with a slash mark.

I read not to use anything but a lead pencil to mark the eggs because it can absorb through the shell and I'd imagine the chemicals in a sharpie are not good for baby chicks :/

 

[tootsey]

I went out this morning and Olive had two lovely little babies under her happily chirping. Still a bit damp so I dont think they were long out. I am so happy

.

And this evening a few more of the eggs are moving around themselves......more babies. I never thought this was going to go right.