is this even possible??

[technodoll]

I have 3 silkie eggs under my hen, due to hatch on Sunday (day 21).

I candled them this morning to make sure they were still viable (had only candled them at day 7, nothing since) and sure enough they are alive and kicking in there...

ONE PEEPED AT ME!

Unless the chick has already pierced through the air cell, is this possible or common a full 3 days before due date?

I'm so excited for the babies to come!

 

[HEChicken]

My understanding is that you can't hear peeping until they have pipped internally so if you are hearing peeping, my guess is that chick at least has already pipped the air cell. My broody hatched chicks hatched 2 days early, although that was in August when temps were pretty high. Perhaps you will have an early hatch too.

 

[CCourson05]

Quote:
Yep. That is right. They can't make noises until they internally pip.. Since a chicken is the most prehistoric animal remaining, along with all birds, they use wind (aka air) to pass through their vocal chamber to create vibrations... I always think of Jurassic Park with the Raptor vocal chamber... Lol.

 

[technodoll]

oh gosh.... so one of the chicks will probably hatch early!

i just hope momma hen stays on the two other eggs until everyone's hatched...

providing that is mother nature's plan, you never know if the babies will make it or not...

 

[technodoll]

also, other question...

is a chick even fully developed at 18 days in the shell?

 

[CCourson05]

An internal pip can last several hours... After that the pip, which can take up to 24 hours to zip and hatch... It will be on time... No worries...

 

[technodoll]

Quote:
whew! thanks!

now i hope the other two take the hint and hatch early too... yikes!

so exciting!

 

[cmom]

I agree with the other posts. I have had chicks hatch on day 18 but more often on days 19 and 20. Most of my chicks are all hatched by day 21.

 

[technodoll]

Quote:
I'm relieved to know the chicks won't be deformed if born early...

The last time I let one of my silkie hens hatch some babies it took ** 24 ** days for them to hatch...

It was April so it was a bit cold in the barn, but still!

Hatched 7 babies, 6 survived... all girls