Uh oh... Day 25 and eggs haven't hatched!

[Guess what]

My hen has been sitting on her eggs for 25 days. This is her first time laying on eggs and there are only 2 of them. I candled them at 14 days and there was good development a happenin. How long should I wait for the eggs to hatch before giving up?

 

[sumi]

I have had one egg hatch on day 25 under a broody hen, but it's unusual. At this late stage I'd tap the eggs to check for signs of live. Hold the eggs against your ear and gently tap them with your fingernail. If there's a live chick in there it will either wiggle, tap back or cheep.

 

[Majd]

You should recandle them from the air cell part... if you see moving shadows... these are them trying to pip internally... and if you se a beak taping the shell they're going trying to pip externaly... you can tap on the eggs gently and listen if the sqweek or tap back.... if non of these are noticeable they are probably dead..... some people say chicks can still hatch on day 28... but in my opinion they miscalculted the real date of the hen sitting properly.... as in my hundreds of clutches using broodies I have never ever had any chick that took more than 20 or 21 days maximum. .. they usually hatch on day 19..... so now after you candle and you can see slight movements or no movements at all you can gently crack a small whole in the air cell part and check out if they were dead or stuck and couldn't hatch.... good luck and keep us posted

 

[Guess what]

Thank you. I tapped and candled the eggs and nothing. Looks like these babies weren't going to hatch. But now I know. Thanks for the advice now my hen can get back to just being a hen.

 

[Majd]

You done all you can... hope next time you'll have a better hatch

 

[Guess what]

Thank you