day 21. No sound, no wiggling, no pipping.

[SherrieT]

There may have been some low incubator temperature that delayed the hatch. I never know when I should help or when I should just let nature do its thing.
Good luck

 

[Betsysbabyservices]

so wait, it is ok to open the incubator and handle the eggs? I thought that was completely forbidden! so we're looking for movement...
I'm really worried that when we candled them each week we scrambled them by moving them to fast or too much. it's the only thing I can think of that we did wrong.
it's sooo good to hear that you had piping on day 24... I'll be patient.

 

[Betsysbabyservices]

and again ... when candling green eggs, what and how? we have a very bright LED flashlight, but so far can only see light and shadow. What are we looking for??

 

[LaynaDon95]

so wait, it is ok to open the incubator and handle the eggs? I thought that was completely forbidden! so we're looking for movement...
I'm really worried that when we candled them each week we scrambled them by moving them to fast or too much. it's the only thing I can think of that we did wrong.
it's sooo good to hear that you had piping on day 24... I'll be patient.

Some people will say no, that it's a horrible idea to open the incubator at all, and especially don't handle the eggs. I haven't had a problem with it. I've had to open the incubator and refill sponges. I've handled the eggs after lockdown, because some had not even pipped and I wanted to see if they were alive. I wouldn't worry as long as you don't leave them out for a long period of time or leave the incubator open. As far as handling them too roughly, I doubt it. They are a lot tougher than some people make them out to be. As long as you don't literally shake them up, they should be fine.

and again ... when candling green eggs, what and how? we have a very bright LED flashlight, but so far can only see light and shadow. What are we looking for??

At this stage you won't be able to see much chick. Especially in green eggs. Choose some of the lightest ones. You should be able to see a good air pocket at the fat end of the egg, and the rest of the egg should pretty much be filled with chick, so that it looks dark. Sometimes you will be able to see movement, sometimes you won't. If you don't that doesn't necessarily mean that they are dead. If you shine the light into the fat end of the egg you can look for internal pips. (When the beak is already in the air pocket.) Also, if you look for a minute you usually see movement near the air pocket. (but again, not always. If you don't see any, don't get discouraged.)

 

[LaynaDon95]

Sooo... How'd it go? Any babies?

 

[Forrnellie]

Day 21 no pipping, no noise, no moving, candled day before lockdown and had 8 for sure 2 borderline movement. I trusted the incubator at 99.5 but added a thermometer on day 18 and it was about 97-98. It’s cold here during the day and night.
Temp fluctuations may have delayed things maybe? But they would have had this same
fluctuating heat the entire 18 days so it
seems they should
be ok. Humidity is at 65% and dropping as water is evaporating. I don’t want to add more water because the humidity will rise when they hatch yes? This is so much stres why do it do this!!! lol

 

[chickfused]

Did you ever get any babies?

 

[Forrnellie]

Did you ever get any babies?

One yes then the cat knocked over the incubator. Crash survived. It looked like 6 others would have hatched late so day 24 or 25, Crash hatched quick day 23.

 

[-Flash-]

One yes then the cat knocked over the incubator. Crash survived. It looked like 6 others would have hatched late so day 24 or 25, Crash hatched quick day 23.

This is one of those posts that I never know how to react to it, do I it? Or it?
I'm glad you got a baby!!! Sorry about the rest

 

[chickfused]

As soon as my incubator can stop turning, I'm unplugging it and taking it to a cat free room for lockdown. I've been terrified about this. Lil' Crash is a cutie! I used to have a cat named Crash oddly enough