Helping a chicken egg

[Isabella_animale]

Hey everyone! So I have a bantam egg that is being incubated by a broody hen...today is day 21 buy there is still no pimps and I can't hear no chirping. I tried candling it and it's all black except for the air pocket that is totally in tact. Ive also candled it a few times during incubation and it was always very alive and active. I'm not sure if it's alive but I want to give it the best chance possible. Should I make a hole in the air pocket to help it breath?

 

[Ridgerunner]

today is day 21

Are you counting the days correctly? That's a common mistake, just a couple of days ago someone was doing it wrong. An egg does not have a day's worth of development when you put it in the incubator or under a hen. It takes 24 hours for it to have a day's worth of development so you say "one" the day after it starts. An easy way to check your counting is that the 21 days are up the day of the week you set it. If you set it on a Saturday, the 21 days are up on a Saturday.

I tried candling it and it's all black except for the air pocket that is totally in tact.

Sounds good.

Should I make a hole in the air pocket to help it breath?

I would not. I find the more I interfere the more harm I do unless I know something is wrong. I only interfere as a last resort.

The 21 day thing is only a target. For different reasons an egg can be a couple of days early or late, even under a broody hen. I would do nothing until at least 23 days of incubation. Even then I'd be careful.

 

[Isabella_animale]

Are you counting the days correctly? That's a common mistake, just a couple of days ago someone was doing it wrong. An egg does not have a day's worth of development when you put it in the incubator or under a hen. It takes 24 hours for it to have a day's worth of development so you say "one" the day after it starts. An easy way to check your counting is that the 21 days are up the day of the week you set it. If you set it on a Saturday, the 21 days are up on a Saturday.


Sounds good.


I would not. I find the more I interfere the more harm I do unless I know something is wrong. I only interfere as a last resort.

The 21 day thing is only a target. For different reasons an egg can be a couple of days early or late, even under a broody hen. I would do nothing until at least 23 days of incubation. Even then I'd be careful.

Thanks for all the info! It was around this time 21 days ago that I put it under her. Also, is it alright that I candled it though? I put it back in the same position it was in after I put it back.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I never candle eggs under a broody hen, it's not convenient and doesn't help them hatch. But I don't think you harmed it by candling, whether it went back in the same position or not.

 

[Isabella_animale]

I never candle eggs under a broody hen, it's not convenient and doesn't help them hatch. But I don't think you harmed it by candling, whether it went back in the same position or not.

Thank you. Sorry if that question sounded stupid, I just don't want to be the cause of any harm