My eggs haven't hatched, in need of help.

[Beth77]

Hi, I'm on the 22nd day and my eggs haven't hatched under my broody hen. I don't think I've done anything wrong, maybe I've went out to check them too much?

Thanks

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

21 days is just a guide and nothing is set in stone. A broody hen is the best way to hatch as it's totally natural. Did you candle the eggs at all during incubation? Did they look to be developing ok?
My best advice now would be to leave her be and let her get on with it without disturbance.

Hope you have cute little fuzz balls soon

 

[snywalker]

Hi, I'm on the 22nd day and my eggs haven't hatched under my broody hen. I don't think I've done anything wrong, maybe I've went out to check them too much?

Thanks

I am in the same boat as you. It is really hard not knowing how things are going. It is very different than an incubator.

 

[Beth77]

21 days is just a guide and nothing is set in stone. A broody hen is the best way to hatch as it's totally natural. Did you candle the eggs at all during incubation? Did they look to be developing ok?
My best advice now would be to leave her be and let her get on with it without disturbance.

Hope you have cute little fuzz balls soon

No I didn't candle them, maybe I should have. Hopefully they'll hatch soon!

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Fingers crossed they do

It's hard to say they will or won't with no candling. Do you know if the eggs were fertile before putting them under her? When incubating my own I save a couple of extras to crack open to check they are fertile. If those are fertile there's a good chance the ones I set are too.

 

[Beth77]

I am in the same boat as you. It is really hard not knowing how things are going. It is very different than an incubator.

Have yours hatched yet? Mine haven't :-(

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Have yours hatched yet? Mine haven't :-(

Is she still sitting on them? You could candle them to see what's happening in them.

 

[Beth77]

Is she still sitting on them? You could candle them to see what's happening in them.

Yes she's still sitting, what should I look for when I candle? It's day 24 or 25, do you think there's a chance they'll still hatch?

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

They could still hatch, yes. Toward the end of incubation the eggs should be looking pretty dark and full of chick. Here are some candling pics for you to compare them against ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=230

 

[Beth77]

They could still hatch, yes. Toward the end of incubation the eggs should be looking pretty dark and full of chick. Here are some candling pics for you to compare them against ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=230

Thanks very much for the information. It's my first time and I'm kind of flying blind :-[