Hatching chicks

[aart]

How long should i wait before I throw the eggs out ?

I usually wait until day 24....or 2-3 days after the first chick hatches.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It can be hard to know when the hatch is over. I’ve had some hatches be over within 24 hours of the first one hatching. I’ve had some drag on for over two full 24-hour days. After a few hatches with a certain incubator you get a feel for it, but it can be rough even then. I also have this happen with broody hens, some hatch pretty quickly, some broody hatches drag on.

The chicks can handle at least three full days in the incubator because they absorb the yolk, some can go a day or two longer. So I’d suggest you wait at least two full days after the first one hatches, more if you see fresh activity. If the eggs have not pipped you can do the float test. Put them in a basin with calm water and observe. If an egg has anything alive in it at that stage it will wiggle. If it remains calm nothing is alive in there. If one wiggles put it back in the incubator. I consider this a “desperation” test. I do this as a last ditch test just before I toss the eggs. To be honest, I’ve only done it once.

One disadvantage of a stretched out hatch is that the first chicks that hatch start pooping in the incubator. As moist as that incubator is, that poop can really start to stink in two or three days. If that gets bad enough it might convince you that things ae getting desperate.

Here’s hoping you do get some to hatch!!

 

[Gray Farms]

I personally wait three days as well. By then usually no more are going to hatch.

 

[Patty2017]

Ive found a tiny pip hole yesterday in one egg and I've seen it move a little bit, this is day 23.

 

[Gray Farms]

Ive found a tiny pip hole yesterday in one egg and I've seen it move a little bit, this is day 23.

Its probably stuck and can't turn in the egg to pip around.

 

[Patty2017]

What do I need to do?

 

[Gray Farms]

Not much you can do. You can hatch it yourself but its risky. If it hasn't absorbed all the yoke yet, it'll dry out and die. If it still has blood vessels attached to the membrane they'll bust and bleed to death. If you do hatch it successfully they usually have feet and leg problems from not hatching themselves. If it were me I would just let it go and if it hatches great. And if it doesn't it probably wouldn't have made it anyhow.

 

[Patty2017]

Ok thanks, I'll wait a lil longer then.

 

[aart]

Ive found a tiny pip hole yesterday in one egg and I've seen it move a little bit, this is day 23.

Is that the first pip?
It can take 12-24 hours after that first pip to start zipping.

 

[Patty2017]

Update: My first attempt at hatching eggs was a learning experience but I was so hope to get at least one chick but the temp spiked once again and the only one that had a little pip hole stopped progress

. I just cleaned my incubator up and getting ready to start a new batch from eggs I got from my sister since she has 2 Roosters and I have none lol.. pretty sure these eggs are going to be quite fertile lol.. Wish us luck cause we gonna need it . Any advise or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.