Day 21 - No pipping?

Spunky1

Chirping
Joined
Nov 4, 2015
Messages
47
Reaction score
15
Points
74
Location
Durban, South Africa
Going into the afternoon of day 21 and still no noise or movement. 12 fertilized eggs under a broody Orpington. She's the last chicken I have left from an original flock of 5 and I thought this would be a good way to give her some new friends. I'll be SO disappointed if none of them hatch! I'm a nervous wreck! I don't suppose there's anything to be done at this stage?
 
Don't panic yet. It's not that unusual for eggs to hatch a day or even two full days early or late, even under a broody hen. Sometimes my broody hens are on time but about half the time they are a full two days early. Other flocks are consistently late. There are different things that cause that. I know it doesn't do any good to say not to worry, you are going to no matter what any of us say. Just be patient and don't do anything silly.

Are you counting the days correctly? That's a common mistake on here. It takes 24 hours for an egg to have one day's worth of incubation. Logic says to say "one" when you first put the eggs under the broody but it doesn't work that way, you say "one" 24 hours later. An easy way to check your counting is the day of the week you set them is the day of the week the 21 days are up. If you set them on a Tuesday, the 21 days are up on a Tuesday. But they can still be early or late.

Keep us updated on progress. Here's pulling for you. And no, there is nothing you can change at this point that will help, but bothering the hen is not a way to help her.
 
Don't panic yet. It's not that unusual for eggs to hatch a day or even two full days early or late, even under a broody hen. Sometimes my broody hens are on time but about half the time they are a full two days early. Other flocks are consistently late. There are different things that cause that. I know it doesn't do any good to say not to worry, you are going to no matter what any of us say. Just be patient and don't do anything silly.

Are you counting the days correctly? That's a common mistake on here. It takes 24 hours for an egg to have one day's worth of incubation. Logic says to say "one" when you first put the eggs under the broody but it doesn't work that way, you say "one" 24 hours later. An easy way to check your counting is the day of the week you set them is the day of the week the 21 days are up. If you set them on a Tuesday, the 21 days are up on a Tuesday. But they can still be early or late.

Keep us updated on progress. Here's pulling for you. And no, there is nothing you can change at this point that will help, but bothering the hen is not a way to help her.

They went under her early morning Wednesday 13Sept. Its been very hot here today (32c) and she's been out for a drink and a sand bath 3 times and I've checked the eggs then, so not bothering or disturbing her.
 
I will say, right before my broodys hunker down for hatch, they will take a nice long break, get a dust bath, eat, and drink. I think they know.

I'd candle a few to check for an internal pip. I candled a few of mine under my (very patient, tolerant, and forgiving) broody.

It worked surprisingly well.


They went under her early morning Wednesday 13Sept. Its been very hot here today (32c) and she's been out for a drink and a sand bath 3 times and I've checked the eggs then, so not bothering or disturbing her.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom