Despite 3 attempts my chicken eggs won't hatch (they are definitely fertile before anyone thinks tha

[Tara Black]

I don't think you want to tape up the air holes because they need air. To raise your humidity have you tried dampening a paper towel and putting it quickly and gently under the floor space of your bator?

 

[PaulaG]

I made a little hole in the shell as I had read a post suggesting this and I'm sure 1 of them is still alive. The blood vessels are still thick though. Would they have shrivelled if it is dead? I've wrapped them in warm wet paper towels and humidity is now 60 with only 2 air holes covered. This morning I have warm wetted the membrane with a q tip and thought I saw movement. Maybe that's wishful thinking though!

 

[PaulaG]

Would it have all dried out inside if chick was dead??
The veins are still quite thick. Does this suggest the chick is still alive??
The 1 I opened that was dead had no blood vessels left.

 

[PaulaG]

Ok the chick is alive and has been pushing against the membrane that separates it from the air cell. How long should I let it do this before I help?