Motion and Sound - time sensitive question

[wolfandfinch]

I'm on day 22 with no pips. I swear I hear some tapping, but no cheeping. I don't see any movement, at least nothing I can absolutely verify as me not going insane.

I heard the same tapping yesterday morning without any of the chicks breaking through.

I have no idea what my humidity has been as the bator didn't come with a hygrometer (now I will definitely buy one for the preschool hatch). Is it possible the shells are too hard and they're not making it through? Should I help them pip? If so at what point? I can't grey back here again until 7am day 23. So it's either now at 7:20 on day 22 or 7am day 23. I don't love the idea of trying to help them today as I can't be here to help anymore. I had planned on doing no assisting on my first hatch and accepting the losses but I didn't think we'd get no chicks at all... Please help!

 

[wolfandfinch]

Bump. Sorry, have to go to work soon, in case anyone had time for advice

 

[wolfandfinch]

I have a bad feeling that the "pecking" I'm hearing is just the styrofoam settling against itself because I hear no chirping at all

 

[sumi]

Have a look here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

It will tell you how to check overdue eggs, how to help if needed etc. Good luck and fingers crossed!

 

[wolfandfinch]

Thanks Sumi! I have scoured that thread, I guess I'll have to put it into action tomorrow if I get nothing overnight.

 

[sumi]

If you are home hold the eggs against your ear and tap them, then listen for a response. If you hear a cheep and or tapping sound from the chicks it means they have pipped internally. Make a small pip hole right at the fat end of the egg so they can get fresh air, at least. They will be o.k. for awhile as long as they can breathe. Good luck!

 

[wolfandfinch]

I was wondering if I should try that when I was there this morning or if it was a day too early. i don't want impatience to lead me into making a silly mistake

Unfortunately the bator is at my son's school so I can't get back in there until 7am tomorrow - I work until well after the school is closed. I hope they make it, I have a bad feeling one internally pipped yesterday and didn't make it through the shell - unless that's not pecking I'm hearing. I wish things would be more obvious! The little movement I think I've seen I haven't been able to outright catch and there's no peeping/chirping. UGH!

 

[sumi]

Candle and check for internal pips and tap. If I'm unsure about an egg I do that. When I hear tapping I know the chick's o.k. in there and I just make a note of the time to see how long it takes to pip externally. With candling you can sometimes see the beak moving in the air sac space.

I will keep my fingers crossed for your chicks. Hopefully when you check tomorrow morning you will find an incubator full of chicks

 

[wolfandfinch]

I really appreciate all your suggestions, thanks so much! I'll candle tomorrow for sure if there are no pips/hatches. Ugh, i just wish I didn't have to work today!

I was avoiding candling today until I heard more beacuse I'm afraid to open the bator unnecessarily. I've managed to tie myself up in knots LOL

 

[sumi]

and