Please help. Day 23 chicken hatch just one hatched. Should I open incubator to check the other 10 eg

[countrylover]

This site is great and the articles have helped me lots before.

I'm in a quandary...I have 10 chicken eggs in an automatic incubator. Day 22. One egg hatched today and the other 9 are not even moving/wobbling/chirping. I'm worried they will not hatch. I want to check to see if they are alive but am worried that if I open the incubator I will jeopardize the entire hatch. Rather long winded sorry! Oh and the eggs were set 8 days after being laid. Should I wait or check?
Thanks so much for any advice. Much appreciated.

 

[TwoCrows]

to BYC!

If none of these unhatched eggs have not pipped, then you can quickly open the incubator. It is most important when they are pipping that you do not want to lose the high humidity. If nothing is going on, you can get the hatched chick out when he is fully dry and you might take out one of the eggs for a candling.

Good luck with your hatch and enjoy BYC!

 

[Bens-Hens]

I agree with Twocrows.

The critical time is once the shell is breached, that is when the humidity needs to be up to keep teh membrane moist. If none have externally pipped, it is somewhat safe to open the incubator and candle a few eggs.

I am assuming you have candled along the way and the eggs in there now were dark masses at Day 18?

At this point I would be listening and watching very closely for a wiggle (if they are on their sides, if they are in cartons it's much harder to spot) Once they internally pip chirping can be heard. If no sign is seen then and no other eggs are pipped I would open it up and carefully hold a few up to my ear or candle the air cell end.

The motion may make them chirp or wiggle which you can see. If there is movement or internal pips then put them back in, close it and wait another day. If nothing is seen, try a few more eggs.

Good luck, sometimes they do go over time.

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[liz9910]

you may also post in this forum: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/5/incubating-hatching-eggs good luck to you.

 

[countrylover]

Thanks sooo much. One hatched and another has pipped so fingers crossed for the others. Will keep you posted
x

 

[drumstick diva]

Congratulations - the temps might have been a bit low in the 'bator which would slow their hatching day

 

[Bluebee]

! Good luck to you and your chicks!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello Welcome To BYC! Good luck with the rest of the hatch.

 

[countrylover]

Thanks to you all. I resisted the temptation to open the incubator and two more have pipped. Very excited and hopeful the the hatched chick has some playmates tomorrow (Sat)...