Day 22 still alive in egg NOT HATCHING!

[Sarah ruby 5]

I have three eggs that were all alive and very active before lockdown. It is now day 22 and I still see movement! They aren’t even pipping. Is that concerning? I have been opening the incubator to check on them, do you think that has interrupted?

 

[SilverBirds]

Chicks hatching a few days late is not uncommon. Hard as it is, you just need to be patient.

I do have a few quick questions. Is your temperature gauge calibrated? What breed are they? Did you count them on day 1 the moment you put them in the incubator or 24hrs later?

 

[nuthatched]

Ditto. Is your incubator calibrated? What day did you set? When was your last candling?

 

[gimmie birdies]

If you do a safety hole (large end) You can peek into the egg. This also gets the egg air. Try not to help them hatch, but if you do go slow, and if you see blood or red veins, stop. (have flour on hand to dab blood if any)

If you make a safety hole let the egg rest for 6-12hrs before helping further, they need to adjust to the oxygen of the out side world, and absorb all the red blood cells connected to the egg. Breathing the oxygen helps the to do this.

 

[gimmie birdies]

The chick also gets strong legs from pushing off the shell on their own. (Just like a turtle is stronger if it crawls to the water on it's own rather than someone carrying it.)

 

[lori_smith99]

The chick also gets strong legs from pushing off the shell on their own. (Just like a turtle is stronger if it crawls to the water on it's own rather than someone carrying it.)

I am always learning something new here!

 

[Sarah ruby 5]

Chicks hatching a few days late is not uncommon. Hard as it is, you just need to be patient.

I do have a few quick questions. Is your temperature gauge calibrated? What breed are they? Did you count them on day 1 the moment you put them in the incubator or 24hrs later?

I am not sure what calibrated means. The incubator does show the temp and humidity. The eggs were set Tuesday the 27th of December at 6:29pm. I started counting the next day. I know I have some amaracanas annnd that’s all I know I thought I heard slight pecking lastnight but nothing broke through.. this morning I candled a little and saw the chick still moving.

 

[Sarah ruby 5]

Ditto. Is your incubator calibrated? What day did you set? When was your last candling?

Last candling was this morning because I was sure I didn’t still have live chicks. But I do, they just aren’t hatching.

 

[Sarah ruby 5]

If you do a safety hole (large end) You can peek into the egg. This also gets the egg air. Try not to help them hatch, but if you do go slow, and if you see blood or red veins, stop. (have flour on hand to dab blood if any)

If you make a safety hole let the egg rest for 6-12hrs before helping further, they need to adjust to the oxygen of the out side world, and absorb all the red blood cells connected to the egg. Breathing the oxygen helps the to do this.

Do you mean like break a little hole in the air sack at the end?? I’ve never heard of that. Do you think they’re stuck or something? It’s day 23 and lastnight i was sure I heard pecking but no pipping.

 

[SilverBirds]

I am not sure what calibrated means. The incubator does show the temp and humidity. The eggs were set Tuesday the 27th of December at 6:29pm. I started counting the next day. I know I have some amaracanas annnd that’s all I know I thought I heard slight pecking lastnight but nothing broke through.. this morning I candled a little and saw the chick still moving.

Calibrated means you tested the accuracy of the the temperature gauge to make sure it gave an accurate reading. A lot of times they can be off by a few degrees, so if your temperature is lower than what you think it is the babies are developing slower than you should. This might be the case for you. Right now I'd just leave the babies alone.