Incubator late hatch

[Treezie03]

I have read the many threads on this topic but one thing is still missing, I can't find anyone who has clearly stated the latest day in which an egg has hatched. Has anyone ever had an egg hatch on day 27, 28 .. 30? Beyond!? I've already decided to wait until day 30 because they are in the incubator with duck eggs that are now officially in lock down. The chicken eggs were delayed in growth early on due to low-ish temps and the eggs that did hatch were 2 days late. But now that we are 4 -5 days late I'm losing hope. Please just tell me if you have experience with chicken eggs hatching on day 28 or later. Info on the circumstances surrounding those late hatches would be greatly appreciated.

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[Treezie03]

Also, I have candled and floated but I'm new to this and it is inconclusive, no movement that I can tell. I saw one egg rock'n'rolling a few days ago, but it has stopped. No sound. I hope I get a surprise.

 

[gander007]

 

[drumstick diva]

I would think having duck and chicken eggs in the same incubator could be good for one and bad for another. I don't know what the humidity should be for ducks, maybe they needed more than chicks. If so this could have drowned the chicks in their shell.

You might sacrifice a chicken egg and open it to see what state the chick is in. If it is dead but, fully formed it probably died in the shell for whatever reason.

For better information go to Raising backyard chickens forum, and click the side tab that is for incubating & hatching

 

[TwoCrows]

I know it is hard waiting and often frustrating. If I think all has gone correctly with my incubation process so far, I usually go to day 5 and then I give them one last candling. If I don't think there is life, I pitch them. HOWEVER....if things have gone wrong, like low temps, power outages, other oddities and bator problems, then I will go to day 7. Low temps in the bator can slow the growth of the chicks. As Drumstick Diva has mentioned, it never hurts to do a sacrifice and especially on any dead eggs. You can learn a lot about what went wrong by opening up an egg...when did the embryo die....blood rings....late death...all these can tell you what you may have done wrong or if possibly you have incubator troubles.

Good luck and I hope something hatches for you on these chicken eggs!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Low temperatures can delay hatch date, but if some eggs have hatched and you are now 4 or 5 days past their actual hatch day, I seriously doubt that the remaining eggs are viable. They may even represent a threat to the duck eggs if they are to 'explode'.

 

[Treezie03]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. I have decided I will eventually open an egg, I'm just nervous about when to do so. I really dread seeing a living baby in there. Maybe I'll candle and float one last time then get to it. Eeek

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello an Welcome To BYC! Sorry about hatch not going well. X5 I would be concerned about the chicken eggs being bad and contaminating the duck eggs. When you go to check the chicken eggs, you might want to carefully open them from the aircell spot, like you were doing an assisted hatch, you could just put the egg back in the incubator if it is still alive. The latest a chick hatched I remember seeing anyone on BYC talk about was somebody who knew of one that had hatched on day 27 after some temperature problems.