Day 21

[ecse129]

My chicks are on day 21 and I hear no peeping and see no external pips. I know sometimes there are late hatchers so I am not too worried yet but overall this has been a bad batch of eggs so I am not holding out too much hope. However there is one egg that is now starting to look very porous. Should I quickly candle it to see if there is anything in it to prevent it from exploding? I am worried that it will explode or if its shell is weak the chicks will break it when they get out. I don't want to contaminate the eggs that may still hatch. I know you shouldn't open during lockdown, but I don't see any cracks at all yet. Will I be okay to quickly pull this one out the window and check it? Or should I just leave it?

 

[Jocasta]

I'd suggesting leaving well alone but I'm no expert.

If you do decide to go in there, is there any chance you can do it in a steamy bathroom? Or perhaps mist the incubator with warm water in a sprayer bottle? I'm planning on candling at lockdown and hopefully this'll mean that any egg that makes it that far will not be a risk.

Good luck! x

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

this might help, https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=462892

don't rush it, incubating is not 'on time'

 

[ecse129]

I did candle at lockdown and this is one of the darker eggs so I couldn't tell for sure. I don't remember it looking this porous though until lately. I will leave them and cross my fingers that there are no explosions.