day 22 and no babies yet :(

[alycam]

I was hoping for some advice in what to do as this is my first hatching experiance, it is day 23 and I havent seen any peeping yet, I have candled 2 of my eggs and see movement but shouldnt they have at least tried to get out yet? Im afraid Im going to lose them, im getting no sleep checking on them all the time. please help!

 

[Megan Amber]

Well we should go through a checklist-

#1 Is your humidity raised to around 65% ?
#2 Has your temperature been evenly maintained through out the incubation period?
#3 Were all the eggs turned at least three times daily?

If all the above is fine then sometimes you just get late hatches. I have had some of mine hatch up to three days late and still be fine!

 

[alycam]

I just checked on them and I hear one still in its shell no hole but if I put it up to my ear I can hear him in there peeping, do I just leave him back in the incubator?

 

[Megan Amber]

I would leave him in the incubator. It is to risky to help if he has not pipped yet. Even if he doesn't make it, nine and a half chances out of ten are that he would not make it if you helped at this point.

It is good that you can hear it. Try not to take the egg out of the incubator to much though!

 

[alycam]

I have heard that if you make a small hole in the air sack that it helps? I dont want to lose him he is the only one that I can see that is at lease making noise as this is my first one.

 

[Megan Amber]

Well, firstly it being only day 22 I would give him a little more time. It is hard to do I know, but sometimes it is better. On the other hand we have assisted hatchings before never before they have pipped though. Sometimes it works out, usually though it does not. However my best chicken is an assisted hatch chick.

Now when you candled them could you tell if he had broken into the air sack yet? Or is he still all curled up under neath of it?

 

[alycam]

I can see that he is in the air sack and making lots of noise now but still no hole through the shell. the other egg that is due at this same time, I dont see anything in the air sack and no noise. I dont know where the term " mother hen" comes from, I am just going crazy not being able to help LOL

 

[Megan Amber]

Okay so that he has broken the air sack that is really good! I would give him a little more time to see if he can pip on his own all the while listening to make sure he is okay. Try not to open the incubator any more than needed. Also crazy as it sounds encouragement really helps them!

 

[alycam]

this may sound funny but how do I encourage? lol

 

[alycam]

i dont hear him peeping anymore