Day 22 and nothing

[denise91]

No pipping and no peeping.

I've been trying to hatch six bantam eggs under a broody hen. I candled the eggs at day 14 and they were all alive and moving.

But now it's day 22. I just peeked under her and the chicks still haven't pipped. But the eggs also don't smell.

I know lower temperatures can cause a late hatch and my hen did leave the nest occasionally.

Is there a chance the chicks are still alive? Should I try candling them again?

 

[MyLittleRedCoop]

I found this link helpful.
It's pretty easy to do.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ng-egg-viability-for-late-or-overdue-hatching

 

[denise91]

I found this link helpful.
It's pretty easy to do.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ng-egg-viability-for-late-or-overdue-hatching

That's a great link, thanks!

I heard that eggs shouldn't be moved after day 18. Is that not actually true then and they can be moved?

 

[One Chick Two]

No pipping and no peeping.

I've been trying to hatch six bantam eggs under a broody hen. I candled the eggs at day 14 and they were all alive and moving.

But now it's day 22. I just peeked under her and the chicks still haven't pipped. But the eggs also don't smell.

I know lower temperatures can cause a late hatch and my hen did leave the nest occasionally.

Is there a chance the chicks are still alive? Should I try candling them again?

I wouldn't risk possibly damaging them. Would leave them alone for another few days. Good luck!

 

[MyLittleRedCoop]

That's a great link, thanks!

I heard that eggs shouldn't be moved after day 18. Is that not actually true then and they can be moved?

When I did it, it was 23 days, so 2 days past "due". I had 2 eggs that weren't progressing.
I also did the peck and scratch test, lightly tapping the egg (like the mama would) to see if the chick peeps.
I could hear one chick peep through the egg shell, so I didn't do the test on that egg.
The other egg showed no movement when I tapped it (when I was candling it) and no peeping, so I went ahead and tested it. The egg turned up in the water, so the chick was definitely dead.

You only do this if the shell is *completely* intact. No cracks, no pips, no damage at all. If it's pipped, you don't do this. And you only do this when the eggs haven't hatched, days after the "due date".

Also, if it's under a hen, the hen will boot it out before it goes really bad.

Good luck!