Need help ASAP my hen quit sitting at day 17 what do I do?

[coolchik]

Thanks for the inspiring news! Unfortunately I'm on day 24 and I have no movement at all. I'm gonna give it till the end of the day, then I'm going to discard them. I'm so mad at my silkie right now!!!! But I'm glad your eggs are moving around! Best of luck!

 

[tlbirdsmisty]

Today is my 24 day!! Don't give up! And u can't see them just looking down. U have to really look for it. My husband didnt see them at first then as he was about to turn it moved for him.

 

[dekel18042]

Thanks for the inspiring news! Unfortunately I'm on day 24 and I have no movement at all. I'm gonna give it till the end of the day, then I'm going to discard them. I'm so mad at my silkie right now!!!! But I'm glad your eggs are moving around! Best of luck!

Have you tried the water test? Put eggs in water and see if it moves. Also, I think there is a good chance the hen left the nest because she knew something wasn't right with the eggs. The fact that one was leaking to the point it smelled seems to confirm there was a problem. Toward the end, the last few days, the hen can sense the baby chicks moving. They make a clicking sound and can be heard and the hen talks back to them. If this was missing she may have known thee was a problem.
Has she hatched any eggs before? At the point when you're sure nothing is happening are you going to have an eggtopsy on them? That can often tell you a lot.

 

[coolchik]

Dekel18042,
My eggs never oozed any smelly stuff. I did an eggtopsy today and they were fully developed, but shrink wrapped. I think day 18 was too critical. I had them under a heat lamp with a wet sponge until I could find an incubator to borrow and then I had to let it regulate to 100 degrees with 70% humidity. So when the bator was finally ready they were at day 20. I don't think they had enough humidity. my silkie ss hatch a clutch last summer, and then abandoned another clutch later in the summer. I don't think I'm gonna let her attempt anymore, or maybe next time I'll have a bator ready in case she does this again.

 

[tlbirdsmisty]

Well my eggs stopped moving now for about 2hours. Humidity has stayed between 70 and 75 and temp at 99.8. Could they need help? Are they ok? Should I open?

 

[coolchik]

Are your eggs in an incubator? Have they pipped yet?

 

[tlbirdsmisty]

No they haven't pipped yet. And yes there in incubator

 

[coolchik]

I wouldn't disturb them in any way, this is the most critical time for the humidity and temp to be just right. I've been told the incubator should not be opened at all after day 18. That's what can cause "shrink wrap".

 

[tlbirdsmisty]

I had to open just for second to add water. Will that hurt?

 

[tlbirdsmisty]

Ok their moving again but not a lot. Could they be getting in position? Do I need to help them out? Not one has pipped...