Day 23 and no chicks yet

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Day 23 of incubating 2 dozen chicken eggs and no signs of life..? As far as I'm aware I've done all the right stuff....I have a hova-bator 1622.
Could a dip in temp a degree over a couple cold nights kill them?
Thanks, CK
 
It wouldn't necessarily kill them but it may delay them a bit. You could candle them to see what's going on but try not to move the egg to a different position to the one it's sitting in inside the incubator. See if the air cell has drawn down on one side or if you can see if any have internally pipped.

Do you have an independent thermometer? The temperature on the incubators are often incorrect, so an independent, calibrated thermometer is essential for ensuring your eggs are at the correct temperature. Here's an article on how to calibrate your thermometer and hygrometer: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

Keep them in until day 26. Hopefully they are just being slow. :fl
 
Did you candle them along the way to verify they were viable and growing?

What was your humidity?

By day 23 I would think you'd see pips, movement, or hear peeps if the eggs are good.
 
It wouldn't necessarily kill them but it may delay them a bit. You could candle them to see what's going on but try not to move the egg to a different position to the one it's sitting in inside the incubator. See if the air cell has drawn down on one side or if you can see if any have internally pipped.

Do you have an independent thermometer? The temperature on the incubators are often incorrect, so an independent, calibrated thermometer is essential for ensuring your eggs are at the correct temperature. Here's an article on how to calibrate your thermometer and hygrometer: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

Keep them in until day 26. Hopefully they are just being slow. :fl
Just the thermometer that came with it. I have it elevated to almost the top of the eggs and adjust it slightly often keeping it closer to 100 than 99.
Its not calibrated so thanks for that.
 
Did you candle them along the way to verify they were viable and growing?

What was your humidity?

By day 23 I would think you'd see pips, movement, or hear peeps if the eggs are good.
I tried candling but hardly know what I'm looking at so just put them back in and left them. I don't have a hygrometer but it has water trays as a guide. I used tray 1 for first 18 days then filled trays 1 and 2.
Thanks
 
Bummer. Honestly you're flying blind then. No idea what happened with the hatch or if there's still hope. Temperature, humidity, and egg viability are all suspect.

You can read up on assisted hatching. Then look into one of the eggs by making a small hole into the aircell. Then you can peek in the egg and see if there is a chick and if it's still alive. Feel free to post pics for guidance.
 
I tried candling but hardly know what I'm looking at so just put them back in and left them. I don't have a hygrometer but it has water trays as a guide. I used tray 1 for first 18 days then filled trays 1 and 2.
Thanks
I have the same incubator but I DO NOT trust the hygrometer as it indicates 20 points lower than the independent calibrated hygrometer that I use. I also fill the first outer channel for the first 18 days of incubation which gives me about 30% humidity where I live, sometimes it goes up to 35% but no more. I then fill the next 2 channels for lockdown and this gives me good successful hatches.

As to candling, the main things you are looking for are the air cell and growth of the embryo. Candle down through the fat end of the egg and also make sure that if you are incubating the eggs in an upright turner, that the eggs are in there with the fat end up. This is very important. If they are incubated on their sides then this doesn't matter obviously.

As stated earlier, ideally by day 23 you would be seeing some pips if the temp was low during incubation. It might be worth taking an egg and candling it now knowing a bit more about what to look for. This can all be used for experience for your next incubation. If you decide to candle, please post what you find.
 

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