Incubating chicks

[Dragonflyrun]

This is the second time we are trying to hatch our own eggs. The first time we were not able to keep the humidity and temperature right. So we lost that groups of chicks. We are now at day 20 and there are no signs of pipping. We just checked them at day 15 and they were moving fine. Its driving me crazy not to open the incubator. Help please.

 

[TaylorHobbyFarms]

Do not, under any circumstances, open the incubator. It is not uncommon not to see pipping until the 21st day. Are you also starting your count the day after you set the eggs?

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

This year I've had issues with the incubator. part of it was the inability to leave it closed (I know better). Don't touch the eggs you can damage or destroy a hatch that way. Leave it closed. Leaving an incubator closed saves lives!
My dad said he's had some that didn't pip til day 22 then full hatch done with 100% hatch by day 24. While most should hatch by day 21 everything goes into play. The temp that they are incubated, if the incubator got a draft that cooled it, if the temp wasn't steady, the humidity level being off.
Just be patient. Most likely middle of the night you'll start to hear chirping. Good luck sleeping personally when mine get to day 20 I'll spend the night with my nose pressed against the glass telling them to come out.

 

[Dragonflyrun]

We incubated on April 3rd. We did have a few eggs moving Monday night and also Tuesday night, but no one is pipping. What is the humidity and temperature supposed to be for the last 3 days? Its driving us crazy that none of them have broken through the shell.

 

[TaylorHobbyFarms]

If you set them on April 3rd, yesterday would have been the 21st day and should have been hatch day if humidity/temperature and eggs are good. Of course a day on either side is normal. Temperature and humidity varies on the methods used, but I prefer 100 degrees for the first 18 days and 99.5 for the last 3. I also maintain around 40 to 50% humidity the first 18 days and 50 to 65% the last three. I would prefer a lower humidity the first 18 and higher the last three, but using the GQF 1502 I haven't quite figured out how to get it just right, but since it seems to work in the GQF, I think I will just leave it alone.

 

[Dragonflyrun]

Temperature has been perfect all along. Humidity has ranged between 50%-55% first 18 days and now its been 64% - 70%. Like I said we starting seeing movement on Monday and still continue seeing slight movements. The movement of the eggs are not constant and none of the chicks have pecked a hole in the egg. Should I be worried or just let them do what their going to do?

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

Let them do what they are going to do. It takes thousands of times pecking at the egg shell to get that hole started. The movement is probably the chicks working at the shell.
If you attempt to help them you'll kill them. Just leave them be.

 

[Dragonflyrun]

The kids came home from school today to see 3 of the eggs with cracks in them. Its been a while and now we can see the beak of two of the chicks. We are so excited. We have 14 eggs in all. The eggs that were moving on Monday haven't pipped through yet. Sending pictures as soon as I figure out how.