how can you tell

[hdowden]

if the chick is still alive in the egg after lockdown. i dont want to do the water test and did candle 2 and they had very defined blood vessals around the air cell that i could see. it is day 22.5 and i have 5 chicks already hatched and 7 still not pipped.

 

[vickie2133]

I always keep my eggs till day 25.

 

[CCourson05]

I always wait until day 23 before I start opening and looking to see if they are still alive...

 

[hdowden]

Quote:
how do you open them to chick? what if they are alive and havent pipped internally?

 

[hdowden]

whats the longest i should wait before they die in the shell if they are still alive?

 

[CCourson05]

Well since you have some out, you know your temperature was correct. Therefore, if they haven't pipped by the 25th day... You can pretty much assume they are dead... However, if you want to check, poke the large end of the egg and see if you can see movement. The large end will be where the air cell is... If it hasn't internally pipped.... It wasn't gonna make it anyway..

I candle to see if mine are alive though.... I can always see the heartbeat... Even in REALLY dark eggs...

 

[hdowden]

if i put a little hole in the air cell and its pipped and still alive how would i keep the membrain moist or would i just go ahead and zip the egg for it and lay it back in the incubator?

 

[CCourson05]

multiple ways.... My favorite is turn on your hot water and let the water get as hot as it can... Soak a paper towel in it and put the paper towel in the incubator... The steam will immediately help your humidity...

 

[hdowden]

ok thanks for the help and info!!!

 

[CCourson05]

For clarity, I meant opening the incubator. Not opening the eggs. I see the confusion.