is this normal?

[silkielover92]

So I put 6 eggs in the bator 19 days ago... And their due to hatch on three 31st, well yesterday day 18 of hatching theirs one that is peeping hasn't actually officially piped yet but is this normal?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

That's normal. They internally pip the day or two before hatching. Yours at day 18 would suggest your incubating bantams or your temp was a bit high so they'll be early. Nothing to worry about and if you use the same thermometer next hatching put a note on it to read it as a degree high. So if you were reading 99 to 100F next time shoot for 98 to 99F. Of course that's only if all hatch by end of day 20, it suggest a degree high if large fowl eggs.

 

[silkielover92]

Thank you! They are bantams!

That's normal. They internally pip the day or two before hatching. Yours at day 18 would suggest your incubating bantams or your temp was a bit high so they'll be early. Nothing to worry about and if you use the same thermometer next hatching put a note on it to read it as a degree high. So if you were reading 99 to 100F next time shoot for 98 to 99F. Of course that's only if all hatch by end of day 20, it suggest a degree high if large fowl eggs.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

All normal...... here is a good read about what your chicks are doing right now... articles are in my sig but the following is a paste from the https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101 article

Understanding The Hatching Process

Between the 15th and 16th days, the chick orients itself so that its head is near the air cell at the large end of the egg. Not long before the chick is ready to attempt to make its way out of the shell its neck acquires a double bend so that its beak is under its right wing and pointed toward the air cell.
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21 DAYS is just a baseline for hatching eggs.
Many chicks can take 23 - 25 days!
Some pip internally and fully hatch in hours while others will be 24 hours or more.

Egg movement! Eggs can “Rock n Roll” days before they are due to hatch!

The initiation of hatch occurs partially from the increased carbon dioxide level in the egg. This process causes the embryo to begin twitching it's muscles allowing the inner shell membrane to be punctured by the egg tooth. The chick then begins breathing the air in the air cell. Using its egg tooth, it pecks at the shell thousands of times and after a few hours the chick pips a small hole through the shell and begins to breathe air directly from the outside. After the chick has made a hole in the shell, it stops pipping for 8+ hours sometimes up to 24 hours and rests.
During this time, it is acclimating its lungs.

After the resting stage is completed the second stage of pipping begins. The chick begins to turn slowly inside the egg. As the chick turns counter-clockwise it uses the cutting edge of the chick tooth to chip away. As the chick progresses in its movement around the shell, it begins pushing on the large air cell end of the egg. Squirming and struggling! YES STRUGGLING! The chick works feverishly pushing at the cap. Finally with a shove the chick breaks free from the shell wet and exhausted. When the chick is freed completely from the shell it lies still. Its energy has been virtually exhausted, and it is extremely tired. After resting the chick begins to gain more and more energy and coordination of its muscles.





In regards to opening and closing the bator to remove already hatch chicks; It is important to remember that chicks can go 3 days without food/water. It is better to wait for the remaining chicks to hatch to insure reducing the impact to unhatched pipping eggs.

But my new chick is running around in the bator knocking eggs around!
LET THEM GO! DO NOT OPEN THE INCUBATOR! They are fine!

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