Eggs past 21 days in an incubator? First timer.

[tara7815]

Hello all. This is my first post here even though I've been using your advice for a long time now. So much knowledge here - so thank you.

On to my question.
We have our first experience attempting to hatch eggs. We got the eggs from a friend who's 2 hens laid them. She isn't sure when day one was though. So I'm working on limited information. She thought they were sitting on them for about a week. They went into the incubator on 8/10/09

We are using a tiny incubator and I have been struggling with keeping the temp high enough but I have been watching it like a hawk and I know that it did dip down at a few points.

I candled them about 2 weeks ago and definately saw something in one - was iffy on the 2nd and don't think there is anything in the 3rd. But because I wasn't sure I kept on with all 3 of them.

Tomorrow would be day 21 from the day we took the eggs. If my hen laid the eggs a week prior to my incubating them.. Should we give up?

I candled again a week ago and saw clear movement in one (still iffy on the other two)

and then again yesterday I candled the one that I saw movement in and it is completely solid now.

the person I got them really wasn't sure when the eggs came for certain.

what should I do?

I'm learned a ton through this process but i'm worried that the temp drop may have done damage

 

[busylizzie]

I would take the first day in the incubator as day 1 not when the hen laid them. If today is day 21 from starting in the incy then give them 2-3 more days before you give up - good luck.

 

[2txmedics]

what kind of bator do you have? you said your watching them temp. Whats your temp/humidity levels at...some of mine didnt hatch until day 24

 

[tara7815]

http://cgi.ebay.com/INCUBATOR-Plus-...in_0?hash=item518aad9585&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[tara7815]

That is the incubator I'm using.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

If you candled the egg that you saw clear movement in and now it is completely solid, there is a chick in that egg.

Have you been turning the eggs? You're beyond day 18 now so if you've been turning them, stop now. The chick will need to get into position for hatching. Sit on your hands and do not open the bator again. Try to get your humidity up to about 65%. If all goes well, you could have a chick hatch out in the next day or so.

Also, if your temps have been running low, you might have a late hatch. Just keep sitting on your hands until at least day 24.

Good luck!

May a fluffybutt shine his fuzz upon you!

 

[tara7815]

I know I should know this but how to do monitor the humidity? All I have is a lil paper thermometer that came with this incubator.

 

[saddina]

a Hygromoter monitors humidity, Walmart sells a basic no frills one for about $8, here they're with the thermostats and household odds and ends (near lightbulbs).

 

[tara7815]

thanks for all of the help - I appreciate it.
I'm obsessed with my eggs EEEK

 

[saddina]

Quote:
Oh boy. That one is sort of the ez-bake oven of the chicken world. Well too late to change horses. one of the legs should be filled with water to up the humidity, then snap the lid on and do something else. Learn to knit or quilt or something. The more you fiddle with it now the higher the chance the egg will not hatch (risk being that humidity will drop too low and they baby gets stuck). Add water and walk away it's all up to the chick now.