How long after I hear cheeping should they pip?

[MizzClucker]

I’ve got a younger silver laced Wyandotte that decided she wanted to be a mother at the beginning of August (way too late for our cold dry Alberta air IMO). I finally let her keep three eggs on August 7th. Although my five year old helps with chores so it’s possible they were laid on the 6th. This is our first experience with hatching. I have done very little with these eggs. I haven’t candled and I haven’t moved her. She doesn’t often leave the nest but today before noon I went out to feed scraps she was out of the coop so I went to touch them to see if they were cold, as in she had abandoned them. Low and behold one is actually cheeping. At that moment she came running in and sat down so I let her be. My son wanted to hear so we moved her a few hours later so he could hear, the cheeps weren’t as loud or as frequent but I didn’t think much of it. I checked them tonight while doing chores and there was no cheeping. It was dusk so maybe they are sleeping, but should I be concerned? There were no cracks in the eggs yet. I have to work tomorrow so I won’t be able to do anything until tomorrow night. Would that be too late if something should be done?

 

[chuckachucka]

It can take 12-24 hours after internal Pip before the external pip and then many hours more for chicks to finish hatching. However a broody hen will usually not leave the nest once hatching has begun because high humidity is much more important then. This is particularly important after the first external pips. So I would say it is too soon to worry and that the broody should do what needs to be done to ensure a successful hatch. The best thing you can do is to not disturb the nest now and try to be patient waiting for those babies.

 

[ChickensAndYoga]

I generally see a pip within 24 hours.

 

[MizzClucker]

Thanks guys. I will just leave her be for another couple days then. Hopefully all goes well.

 

[MizzClucker]

There was no movement in there today so I lifted up her wing and I see no pipped eggs, no cheeping, nothing. I’m thinking the chick has died. I didn’t pick each one up, I just lifted her a smidge to see the eggs and they all look very much in tact. I will leave her for a couple of days but then what do I do. I feel bad for my young little silver. Will I have to force her out? Should I give her more eggs?