Hatching eggs left to cool down!!

[KendyF]

Thank you, will give it a try.

 

[lauragutknecht]

Our broody Orpington did an unexpected and surprising week for us. We were searching for answer on what the effect of our hen leaving her eggs to cool down on the 5th day of her sitting on her eggs as sherylreno suggested to wait it out, we did and expected to have chicks on the 23rd of this month (which was the beginning of this week, 21 days in total). We checked the nest the whole day, but no chicks and the hen still sitting. My husband and I agreed to wait till the following day, since we are confused of the one day time out of our hen from sitting on her eggs and the effect on the eggs becoming very cold. Tuesday we checked again and that is already 22 days, the day ended without chicks and the hen still sitting. This morning we decided that we will already removed the eggs and transfer back our orpington to her coop with her gangs. My husband went inside the coop where she is nesting and he was ready to pick her up, when he saw one chick and the other 7 eggs cracked with moving chicks inside them. We were very happy and confused at the same time, because never happen that we have eggs hatched in 23 days. My husband was thinking that if it could happen to human mother expecting her baby on a certain date, but did not and the baby become overdue, it could happen to the chicks too. Anyway, we have our beautiful chicks, healthy and active.

I know this is an old thread, but if anyone else is reading this for advice on that same problem, here's my observation: if the eggs were cooled down for about a day, it will usually extend the incubation period for a day. Once, I had houseguests, and one of the children accidentally unplugged the cord from my incubator (probably while playing too close). It was about 24 hours later when I discovered it, and the eggs were room temp. I plugged the cord back into the 'bator and said a prayer. I probably lost a couple of them, but the ones that hatched were a day late.