Need advice

[Eeieeio]

Hi everyone. What a great site. reading other people's questions has gotten me up to day 22 of my first incubation attempt. Today is day 22. theoretically, it could be day 21 because I had some trouble with low heat on the first day. All 5 of my eggs have been wobbling around for 2 days now, but there is no sign of a pip. I had started them in a homemade incubator which had some trouble staying consistently warm enough, and then after about 11 days transferred them to an incubator I bought . The temp has been more consistent, but often hovered between 97 to 100 degrees. I have been surprised that any of them made it this far, but they have all been wobbling around for two days. Nothing else. I'm getting a little concerned.

I had a bit of a catastrophe this morning. They have been in lock-down since day 18, and this morning I saw that I needed to add a little water. Tried to do it quickly, my aim was off, and I wound up getting water into all 4 reservoirs. Panic. After checking forums and not finding anything similar, I just removed the eggs, dumped the water and refilled the 2 reservoirs with hot water, and put them back in. Took less than a minute. The temp didn't drop much, and quickly went back up to 100.

At what point should I get worried about no pips?

 

[TwoCrows]

Sounds like you are right on track to me. The humidity level is not that important until you see piping. Until then, all is well. When they do pip, you don't want to dry them out by opening the lid and drying them out. So make sure all your vents are wide open and the humidity is somewhere around 65% to 70%. They can wobble for a few days before a pip. Now, when you do see a pip, don't panic when they sit there for another 24+ hours. They are busy absorbing the last of the yolk and detaching from the inside of the eggshell. Too many people panic and want to get in there and dig the baby out. Don't do it!

So just relax and wait. I know it is hard, but I think you are right on schedule.

Keep us posted!

 

[RileyCalanchini]

I usually put water in all the troughs and it doesn't affect the eggs. As long as the humidity is not to high. Also, fluctuating temperatures may affect the the time of the hatching. Sometimes it can take up to 25 days for the eggs to hatch. Any longer than that, the eggs probably won't hatch. Hope they do hatch!!!

 

[Eeieeio]

Thank you! What a quick response too! I really appreciate the help. I will let you know what happens in the next few days.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! X3, sounds like things are heading in the right direction. Hope your hatch does go well! Eggs will often rock for a few days before pipping, and with the low temperatures you're going to have a late hatch.

 

[Ren2014]

Hello and

Good luck with the hatching.

 

[drumstick diva]

sending good hatching vibes your way

 

[gander007]

 

[Eeieeio]

Hey everyone,
I checked the eggs this morning and there was no change. I looked very carefully for pips, but there was only the same teeny one. Then about 20 minutes later my grandson heard cheeping. About 10 minutes later one of my Tol chicks came busting out of there like Superman. Yay! He is gorgeous and strong. New question - I am familiar with all the methods to sex chicks, but am unfamiliar with Tols. Can they be wing sexed? If not, what age can they be vent sexed?

 

[TwoCrows]

Congrats on the hatched baby!!! I am so happy for you!!!

But I do not know if you can sex these birds by feather and I have never vent sexed before.

You might go to our What Gender section here on BYC and post pics and ask there....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this

I hope the other unhatched chicks are not far behind!!