nothing happening at day 19. Should I worry?

[mothersin2ition]

I know I sound like a neurotic first time mom, but please somebody reassure me! Its day 19, I have 5 that were alive at lockdown. But today there still isnt any rocking, pips or anything. They are sitting in an egg carton, air-cell side up. Ive only incubated once before, and by nighttime on the 18th day, they were starting to pip. Those were eggs from my friend, the ones that are due to hatch this weekend are shipped silkies and Im so worried they wont make it

 

[kathyinmo]

Don't worry. Often times you will never see rocking or hear peeping until they hatch, which should be day 21.

Calm down now. Relax. It will all be okay!

Best wishes for a great hatch!

 

[The Lisser]

Yep, mine didn't start pipping until day late 20. And in between pips it looked like the other eggs weren't going to do a thing . . . then they surprised me!

It's early times yet . . . try not to fret!

 

[mothersin2ition]

okay I will try to relax....... Thank you

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Don't worry! Only start panicking on day 23 or so if still nothing is happening! Sometimes they're just quiet little babies right up until hatch and don't do anything at all until they start pipping, so relax and try to find something to pass the time. (And don't peek in the incubator too much if you can help it, it makes everything go slowly!) I know how nerve-wracking it is, but if things have been going fine up until this point, chances are things will continue to be just fine and will happen at their own natural pace.

Good luck with your hatch!

 

[Linda Dee]

okay I will try to relax....... Thank you

....and Do Not open the incubator until day 23!.... unless all hatch. Then you can open it.

 

[Mellowmalt]

Hey, know the feeling too well. I've incubated before but it seems I have forgotten everything again and currently wondering how my 2 day old chick is producing green poo when all it has eaten is brown chick crumbs.
They should not be pipping on day 18 normally, they should pip on day 20 and hatch on day 21 generally.
Nothing much you can do before then except hope you did everything right up till then and sit on your thumbs.

Day 18 is when turnng is stopped

also ps: I mentioned recently that buying off ebay was fine but I've had some bad results with bantam eggs off ebay. They were shaken around as if they were 3 times smaller than nrmal eggs (right because they are 3 times smaller lol) so 40% of the eggs have turned out infertile or quit early on. Just fyi

 

[Linda Dee]

Hey, know the feeling too well. I've incubated before but it seems I have forgotten everything again and currently wondering how my 2 day old chick is producing green poo when all it has eaten is brown chick crumbs.
They should not be pipping on day 18 normally, they should pip on day 20 and hatch on day 21 generally.
Nothing much you can do before then except hope you did everything right up till then and sit on your thumbs.

Day 18 is when turnng is stopped

also ps: I mentioned recently that buying off ebay was fine but I've had some bad results with bantam eggs off ebay. They were shaken around as if they were 3 times smaller than nrmal eggs (right because they are 3 times smaller lol) so 40% of the eggs have turned out infertile or quit early on. Just fyi

Thank you. I appriciate FYI. I have decided for the first time in forever to have a cup of coffee before I go down mix feed.
Believe me I will not be sitting on my thumbs. Yesterday at the end of the day, I was saying goodnight to all the girls and closing up the coops. I have 2 coops, a small one which has 4 young hens in it and a larger coop, 6 x 8 coop which holds my main flock. During their parade into each of the coops, I saw one girl from each of the coops that had injuries from where one of their coop mates had been picking on them. One was so bad that a chunk of her cockscomb was flapping down and there was blood all over the side of her head..Sooooo I set up 2 cages in my spare bedroom to house the 2 injured hens. I had to perform surgery on the cockscomb because there was no way it was going to grow back. I would like mention at this point, that I hate to have chickens in my house, but the temperature outside right now is 21° with a real- feel of 12°. I got 10 1/2" of snow on Wednesdsy and another 6" inches of snow on Thursday. My chickens have been locked in their 22 X 8 foot run for days now and they are all going nuts and obviously taking it out on each other. There is no way I can let them out because the snow comes up to my knees.
Instead of getting to feed chickens and sit and star at my babies that won't probable be hatched for another 2 or 3 days, I get to doctor chickens that now are not happy to be in 36" X 24" cages.
Can somebody just shoot me?
All joking aside. I do appreciate the communication. I not going to get too nervous for a day or 2 yet. Thanks for the heads up about buying from Ebay though. I had at one point thought about buying some Marans off ebay, but I picked a gentleman that was about an hour and a half away. I had spoken to him and asked if I could drive down to get them. After this week though, I think I'm good with the amount of chickens I have until the weather breaks and we get into a bit of spring.
Thanks for everything. I will let you know when and if these chicks hatch. It was encouraging this morning when I came out, 3 of the eggs looked like they were having parade. Three of the 6 eggs had turned one quarter turn to right all in a pretty little row. I guess they were trying to show me they were alive, but no pips yet. That's okay they can take their time.
Enjoy your day.

 

[PDXJULES]

Do you have a Rooster who may be grabbing Hens Combs while on their backs? If so i'd show him the stew pot quick. They are there to protect.

Enjoy your hatch and coffee! No doubt you already have a med kit and Brooder, Chick Starter, probiotic and Electrolytes for water all set up. Take care of you!

 

[Linda Dee]

Do you have a Rooster who may be grabbing Hens Combs while on their backs? If so i'd show him the stew pot quick. They are there to protect.

Enjoy your hatch and coffee! No doubt you already have a med kit and Brooder, Chick Starter, probiotic and Electrolytes for water all set up. Take care of you!

No I rehomed the Rooster I had about 4 weeks ago. He was a Leghorn/Legbar mix and he was becoming too aggressive. I have a 6 year old granddaughter that loved him to death.
During the summer last year she would go down to the run and stand talk and sing to him. I was afraid if her dad brought her to my house when I wasn't outside and he was free ranging, that she might try to approached him and he may take it as aggression. At any rate, I hated to get rid of him because he was great at protecting the girls. I have a new little Birchens Rooster (8 weeks old). I have no doubt the offender in the large coop is a "pain in the patoot" Leghorn and in the small coop it is one of the young Golden Comets trying to establish pecking order. The problem is the one being pick on is the only Whiting True Blue in that coop with 4 Golden Comets. I had to remove them until their wounds healed so they aren't cannibalized. Then I am going to remove the 2 offenders from the flock and give them a cooling off time in my basement for a couple of days. "Shifting Chickens" to reestablish pecking order.