Day 22 of bantam incubation.

[SkylaHart]

So, our 3 remaining eggs from a peking bantam have made it to day 22 in our incubator. Upon advice from a farmer friend, we tried the water test where we placed the eggs gently in warm/tepid water to see how they went. They were jerking and bopping quite noticeably, but candling and listening showed no signs of internal pipping.
I know eggs can go a few days over the guesstimate of 21 days, but I was under the impression that bantams would be earlier? If there’s no chirping or internal pipping, but movement in the water, have we still got hope? Even after 22 days?
Thank you in advance
Just to add we’ve not witnessed any movements whilst in the incubator, only when they were placed in water.

 

[C3 mommy]

Sometimes it takes longer if you run a lower temperature, I'd say there's hope as long as there's movement! good luck!!!

 

[SkylaHart]

Thank you! I work on a farm who use natural hen hatching and larger incubators and they’ve had everything from 100%-0% hatch rates using both. They lent us a small cheap-ish incubator just so our kids could experience it, but we didn’t realise how nerve wracking it could be

 

[C3 mommy]

Oh ok! Yea that's why I started, my first batch is hatching now! And my kids are very excited!! And I know!! But they are so cute once they hatch!! Hope you find out soon!!! I've already got my next batch to incubate on the counter!!

 

[SkylaHart]

Me too! We really only wanted a couple of hens, but can imagine if any hatch then they will be cockerels
If they don’t work out this time, we may wait until next year to try again as don’t want it being too late in the year

 

[C3 mommy]

Yea that's how my luck is hahah yea I don't blame you!!

 

[SkylaHart]

Look what we found this morning! Fingers crossed it makes it out ok

 

[C3 mommy]

any progress yet? I've got 8 in the brooder, and 4 drying in the incubator!!

 

[SkylaHart]

It’s slow progress but I can see it breathing through the hole. No sign of the others as yet, but I shined a torch through the incubator and am sure I saw a dark triangle type shadow in each of the air sacks. Yay!!!

 

[C3 mommy]

So exciting!!!! can't wait to see them!! hopefully you get more pips and zips tonight!!!