Time between chirping to pipping

[silkhope]

I'll make this short - I have three broody silkies and a clutch of eggs was left for a bit yesterday (one mom had babies and left her nest so another broody took the first mom's nest and two eggs and left her nest of eggs). They were not warm. I found them last night around 6:00 and candled and split them up between the two left sitting.

One was chirping at me while candling, so how long should it take for it to start pipping? I lifted mom up this morning briefly to check and still no pip...

Just worried about them being left "out in the cold" so to speak.

Thanks!!!!

Edited for clarification

 

[silkhope]

Well, I answered my own question. I came home and had a new baby.

 

[jimnjay]

It is always hard to put an exact time to something like that but anywhere between 6-12 hours, possibly longer under your circumstances. I had eggs go stone cold just a few weeks ago. I left the door open between the two pens. Mama was used to being in the one pen and I moved her to a private place. She got off the nest to answer the call of nature and went back to the old pen. She kicked another broody off her nest and continued to sit on the wrong nest. Her eggs got very cold. I don't know how long she was off them. It was a very cold day and I did not go out very often. Her babies hatched a few days later and were just fine. I never hear them peeping, I guess my hearing loss does not allow for those subtle sounds anymore but I candled and saw that one had already pipped the internal membrane.

The main thing to remember is don't give up on eggs especially ones that a broody is taking care of. They are amazingly hardy.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Congratulations on the new chick!

Good luck with the rest!!!

Lisa

 

[lyndatu]

Silkies are indeed excellent mothers, aren't they? You probably won't need an incubator!

Unfortunately, we don't have any silkies here in our town!

Anyways, congratulations!

But I wonder........why do hens leave their fertilized eggs alone?