Day 22 bantam eggs. What to do???

[Ms Steak]

Hello again.

This is day 22 without anything happening, so I did a float test, and decided that is a waste of time unless your eggs are rocking

I candled to make sure the air cells hadn`t got a beak in first, no they hadn`t. Soooooo I then candled each egg properly. I was certain one had died as there was no movement, the dark mass was much smaller than the other eggs, and there were bits floating about, the veins had also disappeared. . Out of nine there were 5 with movement, but the darkness was all at the bottom, and the tops had good strong veins in there. I left all but the dead one in. The air cells are still about the size of day 7.

I did crack the one I removed. The chick had died, I guess around day 14.

So, what would you long time people do? The temps have been all over the place (homemade incubator) so I have ran them low to save cooking them. HELP!!!!!!!!!!

 

[diamond8s]

If you ran the temp low that will greatly affect the hatch time. Plus you opened the incubator during lockdown. Just leave them alone until day 25. Do not open the incubator again! I know it's very hard but mine showed no signs of hatching either and today I woke up to a healthy chick!

 

[mmjc]

Hello again.

This is day 22 without anything happening, so I did a float test, and decided that is a waste of time unless your eggs are rocking

I candled to make sure the air cells hadn`t got a beak in first, no they hadn`t. Soooooo I then candled each egg properly. I was certain one had died as there was no movement, the dark mass was much smaller than the other eggs, and there were bits floating about, the veins had also disappeared. . Out of nine there were 5 with movement, but the darkness was all at the bottom, and the tops had good strong veins in there. I left all but the dead one in. The air cells are still about the size of day 7.

I did crack the one I removed. The chick had died, I guess around day 14.

So, what would you long time people do? The temps have been all over the place (homemade incubator) so I have ran them low to save cooking them. HELP!!!!!!!!!!

I know just what you mean! I'm in the same boat. I have white leghorn bantam eggs and have yet to have one hatch! Have no clue what the problem is, but I'm narrowing it down and ruling things out with each egg that dies, so that is the only good thing coming of it. I've heard that bantam eggs sometimes hatch earlier then 21 days due to them being smaller, but I don't know how true that is. I agree, wait until day 25 and candle again. The low temps do make them later, so I'm sure they'll hatch - just a little delayed. Keep us posted!!

 

[Ms Steak]

If you ran the temp low that will greatly affect the hatch time. Plus you opened the incubator during lockdown. Just leave them alone until day 25. Do not open the incubator again! I know it's very hard but mine showed no signs of hatching either and today I woke up to a healthy chick!

Thank you for your answer. I will sit on my hands now.

I know just what you mean! I'm in the same boat. I have white leghorn bantam eggs and have yet to have one hatch! Have no clue what the problem is, but I'm narrowing it down and ruling things out with each egg that dies, so that is the only good thing coming of it. I've heard that bantam eggs sometimes hatch earlier then 21 days due to them being smaller, but I don't know how true that is. I agree, wait until day 25 and candle again. The low temps do make them later, so I'm sure they'll hatch - just a little delayed. Keep us posted!!

I hope you are right and we get at least one fluffy chick. Good luck with your eggs too!

 

[Ms Steak]

I forgot to say. Congratulations on your chick Diamond8s.

 

[diamond8s]

Thanks. I'm having my own crisis with chick number two. Pipped shell but hasn't made much progress. I'm trying to wait it out myself! Hatching takes lots of patience!

 

[diamond8s]

Also keep in mind that the first little crack is such a fine line if you aren't looking really hard you might think nothing is happening. And the process from pip to hatch takes so long! So you really need to just keep yourself busy. It honestly takes over 24 hours. And then after they pip through the shell they go on a break. A long one. So like I said overnight my little chick popped out and by morning was peeping and hoping all over in the incubator. Best of luck!

 

[Ms Steak]

We are all on egg watch now Diamond8s. Every time anyone goes into the utility, we spend a bit of time staring at the stationary eggs. I suppose it is a harmless hobby lol.

Good luck with chick number two. Where they late too?

 

[diamond8s]

No right on time. Number two just hatched. Excellent!

 

[Ms Steak]

Fantastic