Help! Is there any way to encourage chicks to pip?

[Sarah B.]

Hi, everyone

So I'm becoming very nervous. Three weeks ago I went to a farm, my family is friends with the farmers there, and got some chicken eggs. On day 12 I was forced to throw away two eggs of the six I got because of infertility and an underdeveloped chick. So now it's day 21 and I'm freaking out. One of the eggs has already hatched; Thora, an energetic, fearless chick that I love to death. But she hatched on day 18. And there have been no pipping eggs, chirping or movement in the rest.

Thora, or egg 3 as she was formerly known as, was the next-smallest one (there was one smaller) but she was the furthest from the heat source. So I was wondering if there was any way to encourage a chick to pip. I've been thinking about recording Thora's chirping and playing it on a loop for the eggs; I've heard that chicks that hear and feel their hatched-siblings kick them around encourages them to pip themselves. So maybe that will help.

If they haven't hatched on day 22 or 23 I think I will put Thora back in and see if she can offer them some live support.

Please leave some tips, guys. thanks.

 

[Poultrybreeder]

For chirping, try tapping the shell with your fingernail, that will sometimes stir them up

 

[Sarah B.]

For chirping, try tapping the shell with your fingernail, that will sometimes stir them up

Thanks, I'm going to try it tomorrow if nothing's happened.

 

[Poultrybreeder]

No problem

 

[sumi]

If Thora's egg was very small, that could account for her early hatch. I have seen this happen with my MIL's little bantams, hatching on day 18. Regular sized chicken eggs I've had hatch from day 20 to day 25, the latter under a broody hen too. Even under ideal circumstances, they are going to get out of those eggs when they feel like it and it's not always day 21 Sit on your hands, or play with with little Thora, and try not to worry until tomorrow, by which time you will hopefully see some action in that incubator.

Keep us posted!

 

[Sarah B.]

If Thora's egg was very small, that could account for her early hatch. I have seen this happen with my MIL's little bantams, hatching on day 18. Regular sized chicken eggs I've had hatch from day 20 to day 25, the latter under a broody hen too. Even under ideal circumstances, they are going to get out of those eggs when they feel like it and it's not always day 21 Sit on your hands, or play with with little Thora, and try not to worry until tomorrow, by which time you will hopefully see some action in that incubator.

Keep us posted!

Thanks. Honestly, I feel a lot better now. I've sort of been hyperventilating; making my family crazy. Nothing has happened yet. But, thankfully, I can't wait in front of the incubator. I'm babysitting. It's a great way to distract myself . Thanks again.

 

[sumi]

Glad I could help! Please keep us posted. I hope the little ones won't make you wait too long and worry too much, but like I said, they don't read the manual, they're doing to do what they want to do and when they feel like doing it.