ScottKelly1974
Songster
I continue to have eggs hatch. A recent power outage on day 19, I went and candled the eggs, also I poked holes in them. I checked for movement in the hole and then put tape over the hole. On day 20 I noticed the chicks shifted into hatching position, so I left the tape off. The hole in the air cell at the early day did not adversely effect the chicks. Last week I put holes in the eggs early and kept watch. Each egg did hatch successfully. However, I did notice in one egg the chick did break the membrane but not the shell. It was another three days before the chick decided to break the shell and hatch out of ht egg. This would explain why those other chicks in January were fully developed but never hatched. They did break the membrane but not the shell, and used up the air resulting in death.
So putting a hole in the air cell of an egg is fine even at day 19. Doing so will ensure if the chick breaks the membrane and not the shell will help the chick have plenty of air if they take longer to break the shell. But I do recommend not rushing the hatch. There are still developmental processes going on, so just let the chicks break out on their own.
I've been doing that for the last two weeks and the chicks are hatching just fine. Currently have 18 chicks running around, more one the way.
I hope this helps you in future hatches.
So putting a hole in the air cell of an egg is fine even at day 19. Doing so will ensure if the chick breaks the membrane and not the shell will help the chick have plenty of air if they take longer to break the shell. But I do recommend not rushing the hatch. There are still developmental processes going on, so just let the chicks break out on their own.
I've been doing that for the last two weeks and the chicks are hatching just fine. Currently have 18 chicks running around, more one the way.
I hope this helps you in future hatches.
