Late hatchers

[Ericaeliz]

Hello. I have just joined and need advice. I had 35 chicks hatched a week ago. 4 eggs left with signs of life. This is 8 days past due date! Like day 29! 2 are pushing into air gap. Should I help them out at this stage. They aren't peeping and no pips..

 

[Pyxis]

!

What has the temperature in your incubator been? What date did you set the eggs? Is there any chance these are actually duck eggs and not chicken eggs?

 

[Ericaeliz]

37.5 and 19 chicks hatched already within a 2.5 day period. This was 1 week ago. They are definitely chicken eggs.

 

[Pyxis]

Can you post a picture of the eggs, and also a picture of the eggs when you are candling them?

 

[Ericaeliz]

I dont want to disturb them and affect the humidity any more. They are into the air gap. One has pipped at the wrong end and another I made a hole in the end as I thought it was a dead one but it moved. It is bum into air gap too i think. I can't understand how we can have a normal hatch out of 2 incubators then these 4 needing a month!

 

[007Sean]

Unless those eggs were set at a different time or they were in a "cold spot" in the incubator, they should have hatched by now. Try to get pics while your candling them, might be able to tell more about their status. IMHO, their (DIS) died in shell, judging by your statement that they have internally pipped but have gone no further.

 

[Ericaeliz]

They are moving all over the air gap so not dis!!! I can promise I have done so many hatches I know when they are alive! I just never saw eggs alive after 29 days

 

[Ms Biddy]

I believe you and that's crazy. I probably wouldn't assist them. If they aren't strong enough to get out on their own they will probably have additional health issues. Do your best to give them ideal conditions and maybe they'll make it on their own. I think I have hot and cool spots in my incubator too. I need to shuffle the eggs a little more. I did it once and it didn't seem to be enough.

 

[Pyxis]

They are moving all over the air gap so not dis!!! I can promise I have done so many hatches I know when they are alive! I just never saw eggs alive after 29 days

That is very crazy that they're so late but still alive. That's why I was asking if there was any chance at all that they might be duck eggs. Are these eggs from your own birds, or did you order them from someone and they might have accidentally sent the wrong eggs?

 

[007Sean]

That is very crazy that they're so late but still alive. That's why I was asking if there was any chance at all that they might be duck eggs. Are these eggs from your own birds, or did you order them from someone and they might have accidentally sent the wrong eggs?

I agree with @Pyxis , that is crazy, that incubation time span would suggest either duck or peafowl eggs. I don't have a clue anymore.