Day 23/24 glass sounding eggs???

[nibbler4]

Hi, our broody little bantam is sat on 6 bought fertilised eggs. She started sitting 3 weeks ago, testing Friday. They had been dormant for a couple of weeks at the farm.

About day 11 I put her out to feed/drink and rushed off to pick one of my children up, only to return in the cold rain 2.5 hours later to find her stuck outside and her eggs cold :'(. I was gutted, so upset.

She continued to sit.

I candled them day 14 and couldn't see much apart from dark with the air bubble.

Last Tuesday, day 17, we moved her into a separate house and run and she is still happily sitting.

But nothing :-(. I've just checked her and the eggs have a 'glassy' sound in my hand. You can feel the eggs have something in as they have a weight that moves when you hold them in your hand. But no movement, no chirping.

Is it time to give up do you think?? And what do I do with our patient hen???

I feel so guilty I left her out and the eggs got cold. And my kids are going to be so disappointed.

TIA.

 

[nibbler4]

*teatime Friday

 

[SavvyPractical]

Sometimes a drop in temp will add an extra day or so to incubation time. Accounting for that you might be right on schedule. How does the aircell look? further down than you have seen it? Or way down the egg? My last incubated set of eggs didn't pip until day 25/26 so you may be ok. If chicks are still moving, I'd monitor the situation, and help if i got to the point of panic.

 

[nibbler4]

Thank you. This is our first time and I've no idea what to expect. I have seen/felt movement with the egg or heard oust. But when I have one in my hand and I move my hand, you can feel a weight 'sloshing' inside with the movement of my hand. Today, the eggs sound really 'glassy' against my skin- I didn't know if that had any significance?? I can't seem to find out any info?

Now I know what my folks felt like waiting for each of their grand children ;-).

I'm just worried I killed them when I accidentally left her out and they got cold :-(

 

[SavvyPractical]

Have you thought about trying the float test? sometimes that will show a bit of movement when candling won't. It will also give them a little burst of humidity. Make sure you don't have any external pips before you start. http://www.avianaquamiser.com/posts/Float_test_of_egg_viability/. The only other thing you might do if you get to tonight and still don't see anything happening is pip an aircell and have a peek. i really think you've just got an extra day or so because of low temps for a bit. I candled the eggs that are due for hatch now on day 15 or 16 and I forgot to turn the incubator back on. Was out for 12 hours before someone figured it out and all seems fine. Fingers crossed for you.

 

[nibbler4]

Thanks so much!