Heard Chirping, Now Nothing (Been almost 48 hours...)

[Chockinshow]

I had put my chicken eggs into lockdown and everything was going good (In a forced air incubator), then on the 19th day I heard chirping coming from the incubator but no obvious external pips so I assumed it internally pipped. I read that it can take hours from there for the chick to externally pip so I've waited and theirs been nothing. My worst fear was rushing to help them and accidentally killing them, but now I'm afraid that I didn't help in time. I haven't heard or seen any movement since day 19 and its day 21, I definitely feel like they are dead? I'm afraid to open the incubator to candle because I don't want to shrink wrap one if its externally piped and I just don't notice. Kind of at a loss, any suggestions?

 

[MGG]

I had put my chicken eggs into lockdown and everything was going good (In a forced air incubator), then on the 19th day I heard chirping coming from the incubator but no obvious external pips so I assumed it internally pipped. I read that it can take hours from there for the chick to externally pip so I've waited and theirs been nothing. My worst fear was rushing to help them and accidentally killing them, but now I'm afraid that I didn't help in time. I haven't heard or seen any movement since day 19 and its day 21, I definitely feel like they are dead? I'm afraid to open the incubator to candle because I don't want to shrink wrap one if its externally piped and I just don't notice. Kind of at a loss, any suggestions?

If your temp and humidity have been correct then I would just wait a bit longer. My chicks start chirping on day 17-18 and then hatch on day 21-22. I wouldn't worry yet. They may not have even internally pipped yet. I have had quite a few eggs that peep before they have internally pipped.

 

[MGG]

Do you have a calibrated thermometer inside the incubator with the eggs? What has temp and humidity been through incubation?

 

[Chockinshow]

If your temp and humidity have been correct then I would just wait a bit longer. My chicks start chirping on day 17-18 and then hatch on day 21-22. I wouldn't worry yet. They may not have even internally pipped yet. I have had quite a few eggs that peep before they have internally pipped.

That is really good to now, it is weird that they can peep before they internally pip. As for temp it has been consitently 99.2-99.6 % throughout incubation. Humidity was at 45-50% and I upped it to 60 during lockdown. I'm supposing it would be a bad idea to candle eggs at this stage?

 

[MGG]

That is really good to now, it is weird that they can peep before they internally pip. As for temp it has been consitently 99.2-99.6 % throughout incubation. Humidity was at 45-50% and I upped it to 60 during lockdown. I'm supposing it would be a bad idea to candle eggs at this stage?

If there are no external pips candling won't hurt a thing.

 

[MGG]

Here are a couple internal pip pics. Your temp and humidity sound good.

 

[Chockinshow]

Here are a couple internal pip pics. Your temp and humidity sound good. View attachment 2114161View attachment 2114163

Thanks for the pictures they are helpful! Good news! This morning I woke up to a new chick in the incubator! Now I'm waiting for the others.

 

[MGG]

Thanks for the pictures they are helpful! Good news! This morning I woke up to a new chick in the incubator! Now I'm waiting for the others.

That's great!

 

[Jessgitalong]

If your temp and humidity have been correct then I would just wait a bit longer. My chicks start chirping on day 17-18 and then hatch on day 21-22. I wouldn't worry yet. They may not have even internally pipped yet. I have had quite a few eggs that peep before they have internally pipped.

Thank you! I was having the same question!

 

[MGG]

Thank you! I was having the same question!

No problem! Good luck with your hatch!