First Incubation

[Madie'sOddFlock]

Okay, so I've spent the last 3 weeks researching, preparing, and(as a few of you know) asking questions left and right. Well, today is day 21. For 5 of the 25 at least... I messed up in the beginning so I have 5 from 8/14, a few from 15, a few from 16, up to 8/20 except for 8/19(we ended up with only 1 that day and it died early on). Anyways, the point is I should have 5 hatching today. It's already 2 PM and I can't see any pips yet... should I be worried?
Anything else you can give me tips on for this next week or so(for the newly hatched or yet to be hatched) would be greatly appreciated as well.
Thank you,
Madie.

 

[ChickensAndYoga]

I am also on day 21 for 3 and day 18 for 4. And totally willing to pass time with you lol not my first but always exciting lol

 

[AshleySGM]

I'm also incubating/hatching my first clutch of eggs in years. I hatched some chicks years ago, probably close to 14 years ago and I sold my incubators etc back then. So this is almost like starting for the first time. I remember some stuff, did a bunch of research, bought a Genesis (since that's what my last incubator was back then). I didn't have any hens laying or the couple I was getting weren't fertilized so I ordered a dozen eggs on eBay (Blue Laced Red Wyandottes). The 12 eggs arrived jumbled and shook so they were all ruptured air cells. I didn't have any hope of having any survive let alone be set to hatch, but we're on day 19 now, and 6 of the 12 are in lockdown. Yesterday I set them to hatch (upright since the air cells were so bad in a cardboard egg carton) and last night one already had pipped so I got really excited, but so far it hasn't done anything else. I refrained from candling as much as possible and only did so in order to toss bad eggs and keep the live ones going. I saw movement in 3 eggs (#s 6, 11 & 12) during this time but the egg who has pipped is #5. So after moving the egg turner out and setting them in the carton and I didn't even candle them. The #s of the 6 set in the incubator to hatch are 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 & 12. I sure hope we get some chicks. I'm worried about them but I'm doing my best to leave them alone. I know how much damage you can do from getting in the incubator too much so I've done my best to have a hands off approach as much as possible. The wait to see more action from the pipped egg sure is hard!

 

[ChickensAndYoga]

I have one shaking and one I think I saw a shake or two. We shall see lol

 

[gallery2000]

then they are coming. hold on for impact

 

[Madie'sOddFlock]

I think I've seen movement the last 2 or 3 days, but last I checked there were no pips... hopefully, when I get home there'll be at least 1.

 

[WVduckchick]

Generally, hatching can be delayed if temps were a little on the low side. So we always recommend independently verified meters (thermometer and hygrometer).

Preceding any pips should be drawdown -- when the chick starts moving into hatching position, the air cell will tilt further to one side, and get out of shape from what it looked like for the first few days. The chick moves further into the fat end of the egg just before internal pip. So if you definitely have no pips, I would suggest candling, and checking for drawdown and/or internal pips.

Good luck!

Here's what drawdown looks like - right before internal pip.

 

[Madie'sOddFlock]

Is it normal to see little darker bubbles on the shell without candling???

 

[WVduckchick]

Is it normal to see little darker bubbles on the shell without candling???

Bubbles? Like a dark spot or a bump like a pip?

 

[Madie'sOddFlock]

Bubbles? Like a dark spot or a bump like a pip?

Those grayish spots... They're on/in most if not all of my eggs that should be hatching.