Grouping eggs after day 7

[Eric R]

Should I try to group eggs a certain way after removing quitters and non-fertile eggs from the incubator? Mine has a fan but not sure if that matters.

 

[JaeG]

It's up to you how you arrange them. I group mine together touching each other as they would in a nest.

I found an article about how chicks vocalise before they hatch. It's a very interesting read:
https://openornithologyjournal.com/contents/volumes/V3/TOOENIJ-3-141/TOOENIJ-3-141.pdf

Basically, as long as they are in relative close proximity to each other they can communicate with each other just before they internally pip. They click rhythmically at 120 clicks per minute and embryos that are a little behind will speed up their development to catch up so that the majority of chicks will hatch together.

Make sure you rearrange the eggs every now and then to even out any cold or warm spots too.

Good luck with your hatch.

 

[Eric R]

Wow. I was thinking more for like temperature consistency. This is blowing my mind!

 

[JaeG]

Wow. I was thinking more for like temperature consistency. This is blowing my mind!

I set out to find out if there was any point in talking to my Muscovy eggs before they hatched (we're on day 23 so still waiting) but then I found that article. Blew my mind too. I posted it and another member had an amazing story relating to that so I'll link you to it:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/really-interesting-article.1358854/post-22408129