How long should I wait now?

[QuackerOats]

This was my first hatch for my new pet chickens and I am very happy to have 7 out of 12 of them hatch! However, theres still five that didn't.

On the 20th day I saw an egg move, but that egg never hatched. Day 21 was on Saturday, ( April, 24 ) and the last chick hatched today ( day 23 ) I was wondering how long I should keep the incubator running to give the others a chance? I don't have much hope, but I'd feel bad if I turned it off, buried the eggs, and then one wanted to hatch and couldn't.

Soo.. how long? Thanks.

 

[little brown hen]

I have waited up to 25 days before.

 

[debilorrah]

I think that after day 25 you can do one of two things: Give up and toss them, or crack one open and see if it developed and just died in the egg. I always crack them open, because the inside can give you clues as to what went wrong. Though with 7 out of 12 hatching, I would say they are late quitters.

 

[QuackerOats]

Alright, sounds good. I just wish it didn't smell so bad!

I might crack mine open to see whats inside.