Day 29, still no hatching?

[Jacob Duckman]

My crested swedish hen has gone broody 29 days ago when she started sitting on her eggs religiously with just small breaks for food and water. The nest itself was made inside the chicken coop with loose straw (treated with small amount of diatomaceous earth).

The weather has been fluctuating a lot from lows of 30s and 40s and first to high in the 70s. Out of her 23 eggs, not a single one has hatched. Should i consider this a total loss?

Can incubating hens take longer than 28 days? Any advice appreciated.

 

[DancingWthDucks]

Did you candle them at all? It could be that none of them were fertile in the first place...... I'd leave them under her for a couple more days before removing them, and possibly crack them open to see if there were any development.

Do you have a crested or non crested drake? The crest gene can prove fatal, especially if the ducklings have a double dosing (both parents are crested). A certain amount of ducklings from parent(s) with crests will die in the shell, and a percentage will die or have neurological problems, hence why a lot of people are against crested ducks.

Charlotte

 

[DancingWthDucks]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/707110/the-truth-behind-crested-ducks

 

[chickens really]

If she started setting and you counted that as Day 1 then your really are on day 28 today.....Yes, it can take a couple more days.......I'm sure you have a Drake and hopefully they are fertile..Give it more time..


Best of luck..

 

[chickens really]

So exciting...My Hen is now setting her eggs too...She started on Friday....Today I will count as Day one being she was on and off the nest a bit more yesterday....Your hatching and I think My Hen is just starting.....So exciting.....

Just keep waiting !.....

Cheers!......