No Movement at Day 18

[RileyB]

I candled last night (day 17) and didn't see any movement, although it did look like there was something growing in the eggs. I'm wondering if they stopped growing or if it's possible not to see movement at all. Also, I am taking them out of the egg turner today for lockdown. Do I just put the eggs on their sides, or do I need to find a way to still keep them big end up?

 

[bugglesmommy]

Put the eggs on their sides. No need to prop up now. The egg should be so full that you might not necessarily see movement. I wouldn't worry until they are past due.

 

[RileyB]

Hmmm...they didn't look really full. I'm worried something happened and they stopped growing. I guess we'll see what happens over the weekend!
Thanks!

 

[cukooformarans]

Good luck!

 

[bugglesmommy]

Here is a day by day candeling chart:

http://chat.allotment.org/index.php?topic=73884.0

If your eggs aren't visually near where they are suppose to be, they may have quit. If the temps were low, they could be delayed so unless if they start stinking then just give them a few more days.

 

[RileyB]

Thanks!
Our eggs look nothing like that. I will give them a few days past the 21st day and see what happens.
What would cause them to start developing and then quit?

 

[bugglesmommy]

There are a lot of factors that cause eggs to quit from serious temp. issues ( not just slight highs and lows), inadequate turning, bacteria, the age of the egg, the health of the birds that layed them... so on. First you should rule out human error and then consider the eggs and birds themselves.

 

[RileyB]

It's our first time hatching. I'm sure I did something wrong...although I followed all directions. I guess we'll just wait and see what happens. If none hatch we'll give it s a second ttry!
Thanks so much for all the help!

 

[bugglesmommy]

No problem! Were the eggs shipped or local? What breed? Some have been known to be more challenging then others.

 

[RileyB]

The are eggs from my own flock. The rooster is a lemon cuckoo orpington (although he looks buff to me). The females are two lemon cuckoos, two buff orpingtons, and two mixed breeds. All eggs we checked ahead of time were fertile. At day 10 we had about 12 of the 20 growing. But it seems like they have not progressed much since then....