Day 28!!!!

[kelly a]

Hi all. I've had 15 eggs under a broody, and 15 in an incubator. After been away for the weekend, we decided that today been day 28 we would get rid of all the eggs and put our 100% failed hatch down to experience. So, we pick up the hen, and find a newly hatched chick!!!! What's the chances of any more hatching??? I don't want to get rid of any now just in case!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Something is wrong. There is no way a chick should hatch after 28 days, whether in an incubator or under a broody. A few days late, sure in either one, but not a full week late. Are you really sure you are counting the days right?

What you can do is the float test. Take any late eggs that have not pipped and put it in a bowl of calm water. It will float. If anything inside it is alive, the egg will wiggle on the water surface. If it floats calm, there is nothing alive in it. If it wiggles, just gently wipe it off and put it back.

 

[bugglesmommy]

Chicken eggs, correct? Some eggs take longer like guineas, Turkey, peacock...so fourth. 28 days for a CHICKEN egg is a very long time. If they are chicken eggs could a few have been layed or added a few days later? Did the broody let the eggs cool a lot?

 

[Amykins]

Ducks take 28 days to hatch. So...if that's what you've got, then that's normal. Otherwise, I have no idea what's going on.

 

[kelly a]

Definitely chicks. We put them under the broody at 6.30 pm, Sunday 5th may ( I'm in uk) we collected them from a friends farm, freshly laid that day. She only has chickens so no doubt about that. She's been sat on them well, I've only seen her off maybe once per day for maybe less than 60 seconds. Hubby is a farmer and he's baffled too. Put some in incubator at same time. Nothing happening with them but I've done the float test with one and its moving!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Kelly, you may have set a record on this forum, not just set it but busted it. 25 days is the longest anyone else has reported with chicken eggs, and that was under a broody too. It will be interesting to see what you report tomorrow. Please let us know.

 

[kelly a]

I will keep you informed! Even my friend who gave us the eggs is baffled! She's been breeding for about 6 years now. It's our first attempt so think we've maybe done something wrong with the incubator - no humidity gauge so maybe something with that?? The only thing I can think of with the hen eggs, I checked them 2 days ago- before we went on a weekend break and mother hen had moved all her bedding from under the nest so the eggs were sat directly on the wooden floor. We've had 3 lovely warm days so wondering if they were maybe too cold and the sudden raise in temperature has kick started them? I looked in about an hour ago, it's all fluffed out now and looks well. Can't see any others pipping but only looked for about 30 seconds as didn't like to disturb them. I've got a very happy 5 yr old daughter now!!!

 

[kelly a]

 

[kelly a]

Introducing fluffy!!! Our day 28 chick!

 

[PoultryGirly]

Wow! Had you been checking for hatched chicks under your hen daily? Could the chick have hatched earlier and just stayed under the hen without you knowing it?