hatching eggs in 3 days need advice

[popcornpuppy]

I put eight eggs in a homemade bator on the 3rd, but was unhappy with the set up so I bought a little giant still air 9200 and transferred the eggs on day 5. On day 7 I candled the eggs and had two yolkers that I discarded. I am now on day 17 and there is one egg that is fully dark except for the air sack at the end, but the five others I can see the fetus is only taking up about half the interior of the egg. I was wondering if the 5 eggs that have the smaller fetus' may have not developed over the fist five days and might not be ready to hatch. this is my first time and am very nervous. could someone please advise whether i should stop turning these eggs or not?

 

[FaithAnn]

You should stop turning all of the eggs on day 18. If you continue to turn the eggs after day 18, it can disorient the chick in the shell and it can have a hard time hatching. Also, increase your humidity at that time. Opinions differ on how much, but I keep mine at 40-50% for day 1-18 and 60-70% from day 18 until they hatch. Good luck!

 

[Katy]

Unfortunately it probably means they died. On day 18 you do need to stop turning.

 

[popcornpuppy]

they are certainly not dead they are all active and moving in the shell. they just appear so much smaller than the one. i was wondering what others see at day 17 or 18 when they candle their eggs and if what I am seeing is normal?

 

[Katy]

I don't know what to tell you then if they're all moving around. I've never had that happen. By day 18 the eggs (except the air cell) are all dark with the chick.

They are all chicken eggs...correct?

 

[popcornpuppy]

Yes all chicken eggs, the one that is larger is from the same hen as the eggs that seem less developed. there is only one egg from the second hen that has made it to this point but is like most, only half full.
I looked on development web sites and what I am seeing in the egg looks like it may be about day 12 or 13 instead of day 17. really need some educated advice.

 

[FaithAnn]

If your temperatures were too low, they could be developing slower than you would expect. If they are moving, I would leave them in there and let them sit until day 25. I would still quit turning them on day 18 though, if they were mine.

 

[Katy]

I've been hatching many years and haven't ever had something like this happen. Are the chicks moving around when you hold the egg still...or just when you move the egg?

 

[popcornpuppy]

The movement is all chicken and not from me. my initial bator was homemade using a lightbulb and my feeling is that maybe the less developed eggs were further away from the heat source than the one during the first five days.

Will not turning the eggs that may be under developed hurt them? or will they still hatch when they are ready without turning?

 

[Katy]

I guess at this point just leave them be... not turning them isn't going to hurt them. You'll just have to wait and see what happens with them.