Incubating day 22! Only 3 have hatched.

[rachiel25]

I am on day 22 for incubation. On day 18 I candled all of the eggs and all of them except 3 (which I removed
) were alive and even moving around. Them temp has been steady at 102 (still air incubator). I raised my humidity on day 18 and it has been hanging around 70%. Why do I only have 3 chicks?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I am on day 22 for incubation. On day 18 I candled all of the eggs and all of them except 3 (which I removed
) were alive and even moving around. Them temp has been steady at 102 (still air incubator). I raised my humidity on day 18 and it has been hanging around 70%. Why do I only have 3 chicks?

For starters are you counting the day you set them as day one? Day one doesn't actually start until 24 hours after set. So if you set them on a Monday at 10 am, they are day 1 Tuesday 10am 2 days wednesday 10 am and so forth. Also, is your thermometer calibrated and are you relying on just one? 21 days is a guidline, an average. So they can be a day or two on either side normally and even 3-4 days later if there were issues with average temp during hatch.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

BTW, how many do you have altogether?

 

[rachiel25]

I had 13 all together, 10 made it to day 18. I have 3 thermometers, and I set them on a Friday afternoon 3 weeks from yesterday. So does that make today day 21? or 22? A fourth chick is started to unzip now.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I had 13 all together, 10 made it to day 18. I have 3 thermometers, and I set them on a Friday afternoon 3 weeks from yesterday. So does that make today day 21? or 22? A fourth chick is started to unzip now.

Day 21 started yesterday, and day 22 will start sometime today (at whatever hour you set them at.) So you are still in the normal hatching range. It's very possible most will hatch out during the day today, and maybe even remainders tomorrow. don't start doubting them until day 23 is over, and then candle if no internal pips water candle and then decide wether you want to give up on any unhatched. that's my theory. The chick in my avatar pic was a day 24 hatcher.
I also use 3 thermometers. Good decision.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Do you know what breed(s) you are hatching?

 

[rachiel25]

Alright thanks! And they are a mix of brown egg layers. RR's, Australorps, Orphingtons.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Alright thanks! And they are a mix of brown egg layers. RR's, Australorps, Orphingtons.

Cool. Mixes are fun. All of mine are mixes.

 

[goodb]

If you have doubts, you can go to day 25 if need be. You are on the right path of candling and keeping an eye on them but don't forget to enjoy the ones you've already been given. They are SOOOOOO CUTE at this stage.

 

[rachiel25]

Three more have hatched out this morning. I still have four that have not even started hatching or chirping. When should I candle them again and what should I be looking for when I do?