/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

This is agonizing

Discussion in 'Incubating & Hatching Eggs' started by knotty, Dec 16, 2011.

Most Liked Posts
Page 1 of 8
  1. Dec 16, 2011 #1
    knotty

    knotty Out Of The Brooder

    35
    0
    22
    Aug 24, 2011
    Hi all,
    In spite of it's reputation, I bought a really inexpensive little three egg incubator. I didn't hold out a lot of hope for initial three eggs but lo and behold, this morning around 2:00 am I noticed a little hole in one. Needless to say I never really got back to sleep.
    Anyway, it's now after 4:00 pm and there doesn't seem to be much progress. In addition to the initial hole which is about the size of a wooden match stick, there is another similar sized hole and one larger hole.
    I hear the chick peep now and again and I hear an almost constant dull ticking and every once in a while I see the egg sort of jump.
    When should I start worrying? Actually, since I'm already worrying, let me rephrase that.
    When should I start panicking.
     
  3. Dec 16, 2011 #2
    foxypoproxy

    foxypoproxy Chillin' With My Peeps

    828
    6
    111
    Aug 2, 2011
    Madison, CT
    Quote:pipping/hatching is very tiring for a chick sometimes they can hatch as late as day 24.
    Don't try to help them out because they may not be ready yet and you could end up hurting them.
    I wouldn't panic too much, just be patient [​IMG]

    Good luck with your hatch! [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2011
  5. Dec 16, 2011 #3
    knotty

    knotty Out Of The Brooder

    35
    0
    22
    Aug 24, 2011
    Thanks, I'll try to be patient. If it hasn't hatched by midnight, I'll start panicking then.
     
  7. Dec 16, 2011 #4
    RareBreedFancier

    RareBreedFancier Surrounded by Broodies

    1,400
    1
    141
    Nov 5, 2010
    Australia :)
    [​IMG] Glad you found us. [​IMG]

    Chicks sometimes seem to set out to drive us crazy, I've had pips sit there doing nothing for over 24 hours. Go to town for 1/2 an hour and come back to fully hatched chicks! I missed the whole thing. [​IMG]

    I'd say fairly confidently they will pop out sometime between now and noon tomorrow. [​IMG] As long as your humidity is good I'd just keep waiting. [​IMG]
     
  9. Dec 16, 2011 #5
    knotty

    knotty Out Of The Brooder

    35
    0
    22
    Aug 24, 2011
    Thanks. I really have no choice but to wait. It's the patiently part I have trouble with.
    I certainly will not intervene. I don't know enough to do that. So the little thing is on it's own.
     
  11. Dec 16, 2011 #6
    Christie Rhae

    Christie Rhae Chillin' With My Peeps

    1,459
    30
    168
    Jul 5, 2010
    Big Island, Hawaii
    My first chick I ever hatched took 21 hours from the first little hole that pipped to the time it zipped. Believe me that was AGONY. I was preparing to intervene. I was looking up info on intervening and getting prepared when the little thing just zipped out in 7 minutes!
     
  13. Dec 16, 2011 #7
    knotty

    knotty Out Of The Brooder

    35
    0
    22
    Aug 24, 2011
    You guys are making me feel better. Thanks.
    I'm trying to make a time lapse video so if all goes well I'll share it here.
     
  15. Dec 16, 2011 #8
    cmom

    cmom Hilltop Farm

    16,198
    642
    396
    Nov 18, 2007
    Florida
    My Coop
    I agree as long as your temp and humidity is good then it could take 24 hrs to hatch. Some take minutes from pip to hatch and some take hours. You just never know. Good luck... [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  17. Dec 17, 2011 #9
    knotty

    knotty Out Of The Brooder

    35
    0
    22
    Aug 24, 2011
    Okay, I keep hearing the 24 hour number. Well, it's been about 32 hours since the first little hole appeared in the shell. The chick is still alive. I still hear the faint ticking/thumping sound.
    Is this still normal to be taking so long?
    Should I start to rethink my no intervention stance?
    I sure would hate to see the chick die because I was afraid to do something to help it.
     
  19. Dec 17, 2011 #10
    champer

    champer Chillin' With My Peeps

    716
    11
    113
    Jun 13, 2011
    San Martin, CA
    I'm sorry I have no advice, but I do send hugs and good wishes!
     
Page 1 of 8

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by