No sign of hatching

[Jasmin Davies]

Hi for the last 3 weeks I have had a broody little bantum sitting on 6 fertile australorp eggs. The first was due to hatch 2 days ago, 3 were due yesterday and 2 due in 2 days. I haven't candled the eggs properly yet as didn't want to disturb the hen at night, but from what I can see and feel in the day the eggs are heavy, appear dark and I thought I saw a blue line (vein?) in one. I have an incubator for backup but I don't really want to take them away from the hen I keep hoping something might happen. Over the last 3 weeks I have twice discovered her with the eggs on the ground out of the nest and she'd continued trying to sit on them ...?? I placed the eggs and the hen back in the nest. Weather hadn't been too hot if anything on the cooler side so no sure why she would have done this. Only in the past 2 days have I dug the nest a little deeper so the poor girl can manage 6 large eggs easier without them rolling out. I'm starting to loose faith that the eggs will hatch and will be healthy. I've read late chicks are often weak or damaged in some way. Ill give it up til day 25 before I become too concerned but does anyone have any advice? Oh and at day 21 of the first egg due, I did notice a slight crack in the egg - but nothing else has come of it .. hoping the crack wasn't due to being knocked when out of the nest? Hard not knowing if the chicks are alive and healthy or not Thanks
Jasmin

 

[Bryam]

It sounds like she hasn't been successully incubating the eggs, if they roll out and cool off the embryo will stop developing and die. Most Iikely those eggs are no longer viable. Definitely try to candle them to see movement, before discarding them.
Sorry!

 

[BYC910]

glad you joined us . By all means candle the eggs and if possible post some pictures . It does however sound like they may no longer be viable eggs .

 

[Jasmin Davies]

thank you for your responses Well I feel silly - I am a complete newby at hatching chicks, spoke to a friend and I didn't realise it was 21 days from when the hen starts sitting on them - I thought it was 21 days from date they were laid. That explains why they are not hatching yet haha they have another week or so. Will still candle them and hope all will be well

 

[ThenNotSoChickenMaster]

hmm, it happens.

I would still candle, just to make sure everything is all good.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Don't feel bad, that's a pretty common mistake on here. We all have to start somewhere. Just think, next time you will be an expert.