question about natural hatching.

[paddyg84]

I have a broody sitting on eggs and it's day 22. Are there any signs I can look for they may be hatching as I'm beyond impatient. This morning she has two eggs poking out from under her about half the eggs exposed. She at no stage has had any that were visible. Is this a sign of anything?

 

[centrarchid]

At the point you are at I would wait another 24 hours. I assume you may be like me and have trouble counting days in a calender.

If you are also like me then gently raise her up by one had and peak at eggs. Viable eggs may be piping.

 

[paddyg84]

Well here it's 12 noon on Saturday and it hit 21 days at 9am Friday. Well that's the time the eggs were placed. I'm tempted to have a peak for pips but.might try not to disturb. Thanks

 

[centrarchid]

If noted hatch by tomorrow, then assume she is incubating bombs.

 

[paddyg84]

Thanks. Planning to go to the market tomoro and pick up some day olds for her if there's no.sign.

 

[donrae]

My last two broodies have taken about 23 days to hatch....not sure what's up with that, but you might just give it a little more time.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've had eggs hatch under a broody two full days early. As Rachel said, some are much later. One member I trust to be able to count the days said she has had some hatch as late as 25 days under a broody. That would drive me even more batty than I am.

The 21 days is a target, not something exact. Just like a human baby does not always come exactly at 9 months, baby chicks don't always come at 21 days.

What you are seeing is hard n you but I strongly advise patience. You can't help the situation and I've occasionally hurt the situation by not being patient. Good luck with it.

 

[paddyg84]

Thanks very much for that info as I was for chucking them away tomorrow after 23 days. Will give them until 25 days then until buying chicks. Phew

 

[centrarchid]

My experiences with more than 21-day incubation involved chronic exposure of embryos to near freezing temperatures prior to onset of incubation or extremely low temperatures during incubation and where hen had to forage for an extended period of time rather than simply go to a feeder. Then a couple, possibly three days could be added to duration of incubation prior to hatch. Longer duration this late in season does not bode well for hatch rate.

 

[donrae]

My experiences with more than 21-day incubation involved chronic exposure of embryos to near freezing temperatures prior to onset of incubation or extremely low temperatures during incubation and where hen had to forage for an extended period of time rather than simply go to a feeder. Then a couple, possibly three days could be added to duration of incubation prior to hatch. Longer duration this late in season does not bode well for hatch rate.

I'm not sure if the longer time was an issue on my less-than-stellar hatches this round, and not sure why it would have taken longer to hatch. First hen was a first time broody, 5 eggs under her. 2 didn't hatch (I just chucked them, didn't investigate), one partially hatched and died and two hatched and are fine. Second hen, five eggs. 2 non-fertile, 1 broke through the shell but died, 1 hatched but failed to thrive so was euthanized, one up and looking good. Not too great. Hoping the incubator chicks do better next week.