Day 22 or 23...should I give up?

[mkr]

Hi, I am new to the forum and to chickens in general. I am an elementary school science teacher. We have been incubating eggs as a class project. Since I have never done this before I followed the instructions on the incubator to the letter. It's day 22 or 23 depending on whether you count from the first or second full day in the incubator (I have read conflicting information on the proper day to begin the count). Four of the little guys hatched right on time--even a little early. 10 eggs are still hanging out in the incubator with no pips, no cheeps, no movement. They were moving before, but stopped right around the time the four hatched. I took the chicks out of the incubator after they were dry, and they all seem happy and healthy. Are the eggs a lost cause? When should I give up on them, and what should I do to figure out what went wrong? Thanks for your help.

 

[jmmre31]

if none of the eggs are cracked. I'd open the incubator and tap on the eggs and see if any peep at you. I know plenty of people that have had eggs hatch on day 24.

You could also try hatching them yourself. I know alot of people disagree with this, but I do it. I figure I'd rather hatch them then lose them. Of course, you can lose them by hatching them too.
Good luck!

 

[lynxs1981]

I would give them a few more days, just to be sure. Seeing as how you opened the incubator during these critical last few days, they may be lost. For future reference, once they start pipping, it's best not open the incubator. The chicks can survive for 72 hours without food or water, so no worries there.

 

[mkr]

Okay, thanks for the advice. I was really torn on whether to take out the four that hatched, but one of them was just really ornery and kept biting the others (didn't know chickens bit each other, but it was definitely open mouth chomping) so I figured I'd move them all to the brooder since they were dry. I read on this forum that it was okay to open the incubator briefly to remove chicks as long as there were no pips, which there were not. I misted the incubator after opening it. The biter has calmed down significantly since moving to the brooder. I don't know, I guess I will give it until day 25 or so. Also, what do you mean by 'hatching them yourself'? I've been reading on here about people helping chicks along once they've pipped, buy none of these eggs have pipped...

 

[britsngrits]

I have a little giant without a fan and mine always take at least 28 days! You have NOTHING to loose by giving them an extra week!

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

Give them extra time.

Tap for "peeps".

Have you candled them?


I know people recommend not opening the lid during the hatch period, but I do all the time -- twice a day, actually. I also replenish the water to keep the humidity high. I check on the eggs/hatched chicks and I candle frequently. I have a high hatch rate. Just about everything hatches, actually.

Don't be skeered. I've had late bloomers and early hatchers. Some have been duds and died just before the hatch -- that is not uncommon, it is one of the two most common times during incubation where the embryo dies.

Good luck.


(PS, candling in the dark with a flash light works pretty well. If you can't see well enough to visualize the structures, but you DO see shadow movement or a shadow flicker with the light held steadily against the egg, you still have life in the egg.)

 

[mkr]

Is it okay to open the incubator to candle them? It's day 24 for the 10 that have not hatched. Still no pips, an no motion. I can't hear any peeps when I tap on the incubator, though the hum is pretty loud. I'm so bummed. I followed the instructions so carefully. Plus, they are all little boys (Red Star eggs, and all four chicks are light blond) so no hens for me to keep. Oh well, a few more days...

 

[ScissorChick]

Quote:
28 days? For chickens? Please look for temp problems in your incubator, because that is not normal.

LGs or KNOWN for temp problems, and they are not an incubator I'd recommend. As for candling...yes,

it is OK to open the incubator while candling. You can have the eggs out for 20 mintues or so before they actually

start cooling down. So take your time, and don't rush anything

Scissor

 

[Shadowgrass]

If none are pipped, you can float test them. A lot of people do it. Take a container of warm water (not hot of course)...well, instead of typing it all, it is laid out beautifully HERE. Good luck.

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

Quote:
Did you happen to receive these eggs in the mail? If so, you may be done.

I know there are folks here that have successfully hatched mailed eggs, but I have never received any eggs that hatched. Primarily because the the air sac was scrambled and did not unscramble after sitting. Who knows if they were even fertile.