How long until I give up?

[SnazzyJazzy]

I bought some barnyard mix eggs, 17 hatched, I have about 10 more that haven't, of those I'm positive 7 are dead. I started these off wrong (tried an experiment with te incubator) and the ones that have hatched did so between day 20&22, the ones on day 22 really didn't fare well but seem to be holding their own now. It's been 24 hours, I hate to give up, but I have some of my eggs ready to go and obviously don't want to waste time on babies that will never hatch. How long should I wait? There's no rocking, no external pip. Radio silence.

 

[beetandsteet]

If there are no external pips by day 22, I will generally take the eggs out and candle them. If there's no movement in the eggs I assume they are dead, and break them open to see when they died. If they have not internally pipped they are almost 100% dead.
Chicks that hatch after day 23 almost always have health issues anyway, and would not be a good addition to a breeding program.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I bought some barnyard mix eggs, 17 hatched, I have about 10 more that haven't, of those I'm positive 7 are dead. I started these off wrong (tried an experiment with te incubator) and the ones that have hatched did so between day 20&22, the ones on day 22 really didn't fare well but seem to be holding their own now. It's been 24 hours, I hate to give up, but I have some of my eggs ready to go and obviously don't want to waste time on babies that will never hatch. How long should I wait? There's no rocking, no external pip. Radio silence.

Unless there's obvious signs of movement/life I don't wait wait than 24 hours after last hatch, (usually not even that unless I'm unsure.) When I have most hatch with no pips I candle and decide, but I usually recommend 24 hours to others to be safe. Past day 22, no action, I wouldn't give it much hope.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

If there are no external pips by day 22, I will generally take the eggs out and candle them. If there's no movement in the eggs I assume they are dead, and break them open to see when they died. If they have not internally pipped they are almost 100% dead.
Chicks that hatch after day 23 almost always have health issues anyway, and would not be a good addition to a breeding program.

I agree. I could never pull the plug no matter what day if I saw life, but seldom will you get day 24+ chicks that are perfectly healthy. My first hatch was botched by a bad thermometer, I got one hatcher at day 24 that survived one at day 25 that died. My day 24 looked perfectly healthy. The older he got and more weight he put on, I started seeing an issue with his leg. (The joint bends out instead of back.) He's my special needs boy and he's 1 1/2 now. The farther you get from the actually "hatch day" the higher the probability of developmental problems. I know some hatchers that pull the plug at the end of day 22 regardless of life because of that.

 

[velani]

I had some that hatched out late as day 23...I just recently hatched out 17 myself. They started hatching out at day 18!! I was amazed they were so early lol. Generally if I don't see any movement after day 22. I am just going to assume the worst and this last batch that just hatched I saw three different eggs with holes and i have them 24 hrs and after i saw no progress I cracked to see what was wrong. They just were not strong enough sadly =(

 

[SnazzyJazzy]

I recandled this morning as suggested and there was nothing, opened at the air cell to confirm. All dead. Cleaned the incubator and will be setting the new batch, thanks!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I recandled this morning as suggested and there was nothing, opened at the air cell to confirm. All dead. Cleaned the incubator and will be setting the new batch, thanks!

Good luck on the next batch!

 

[beetandsteet]

I agree. I could never pull the plug no matter what day if I saw life, but seldom will you get day 24+ chicks that are perfectly healthy. My first hatch was botched by a bad thermometer, I got one hatcher at day 24 that survived one at day 25 that died. My day 24 looked perfectly healthy. The older he got and more weight he put on, I started seeing an issue with his leg. (The joint bends out instead of back.) He's my special needs boy and he's 1 1/2 now. The farther you get from the actually "hatch day" the higher the probability of developmental problems. I know some hatchers that pull the plug at the end of day 22 regardless of life because of that.

Totally agree with that ^^^ Can't stand to kill before the little chick's life has even begun. I've helped out chicks many a time, and they turn out to be ok chickens, some have even been fantastic layers. They are never included in my breeding program however.

 

[beetandsteet]

I recandled this morning as suggested and there was nothing, opened at the air cell to confirm. All dead. Cleaned the incubator and will be setting the new batch, thanks!

Sorry about your losses, but it's awesome you got 17! Hope your next hatch is even better