Hatching

Mika17

Hatching
May 21, 2025
20
1
9
Hello

Has anyone lost days of when there chick suppose to hatch? Is there a way you can tell when it's ready to hatch
 
I forgot which day I set my broody up with fertile eggs so I guessed. My guess was 2 days off as I was surprised to see pips yesterday morning when I went to check them.

Normally you can tell when they are close to hatching by candling them with a flashlight in the dark. An egg very close to hatching will have the fluids pretty much all drawn down (absorbed by the chick) so the membrane at the fat end will be lumpy as it stretches over the moving chick. Candle at the pointy end and you should see no extra space, the entire egg should be dark except for the air cell.

Here’s a couple eggs, the first one shows the lumpy air cell membrane as seen by the shadows.
IMG_0624.jpeg


Here’s one that was internally pipped. Lots of shadows and the chick was talking.
IMG_0626.jpeg
 
do
I forgot which day I set my broody up with fertile eggs so I guessed. My guess was 2 days off as I was surprised to see pips yesterday morning when I went to check them.

Normally you can tell when they are close to hatching by candling them with a flashlight in the dark. An egg very close to hatching will have the fluids pretty much all drawn down (absorbed by the chick) so the membrane at the fat end will be lumpy as it stretches over the moving chick. Candle at the pointy end and you should see no extra space, the entire egg should be dark except for the air cell.

Here’s a couple eggs, the first one shows the lumpy air cell membrane as seen by the shadows.
View attachment 4132396

Here’s one that was internally pipped. Lots of shadows and the chick was talking.
 
They moved a little but not very much as there isn't much room to move anymore. If you are worried about yours, try taking some good candling photos and I'm sure we can try guessing the stage of development your egg(s) are at.
 

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