What is the hatching grace period?

[ChickAficianado]

When our Silkie hen became broody to the point of obsession, we bought 6 fertilized chicken eggs locally, all Paint Silkie eggs. After one egg broke, we moved Momma Puff to her own secured, wire mesh chicken enclosure. I pin pointed the 21 day period to 1 p.m yesterday. At 11 a.m yesterday, one Silkie baby hatched out. Although it seems unlikely that the others will hatch at this point, how long is the hatching grace period? I've heard that it's 36 hours, but others have said they have had chicks hatch a full 2 days late. If I candle the eggs this evening and find the eggs viable, how much longer should I allow? Momma Puff is still laying on the 4 remaining eggs. Should I let Momma Puff continue to lay on them or should they be removed at some point?

Other details: We are in a hot area. Momma Puff has been excellent at taking care of the eggs and almost never leaves her clutch.

 

[Kevin565]

. Not sure about chickens but plenty of people in the duck section have had late hatches as late as 48 hours. I would leave them with her for the rest of the day and check on them in the evening.

 

[gabrielle32]

don't take them off her!! have silkie eggs in incy right now they were due to hatch on the 31st,was gutted when only one hatched,left them anyway but wasn't expecting anything then yesterday two more hatched,so far today we've had one and anothers pipping! I'm going to leave remaining four eggs another day or two to be on the safe side,best of luck with it!

 

[sumi]

X2 I had a chick hatch 4 days late once. Give her a bit more time. Then, before you discard the eggs, check for signs of live. You can do a float test, explained here:

Float Testing, Checking Egg Viability For Late Or Overdue Hatching

Hope you get another fluffy butt (or 2)

 

[ChickAficianado]

She's still laying on the eggs. At this point, it seems very doubtful that anything will happen. I am going to leave the eggs where they are for now. At a certain point will she abandon them, or will I need to remove them? I'm not concerned, as she is tending to her chick and eating and drinking, but I'm quite curious.

 

[Snozzle]

Listen for peeping, maybe even candle if you can, but make sure not to turn them when you do, keeping the egg in the same position as they were in the nest. Usually I wouldn't suggest candling in the last few days, but if they are way overdue then they may be in trouble and need help. I just had to help a guy in my incubator out who was 2 days overdue, positioned all wrong and with no egg tooth, I ended up having to peel him out myself, but he seems to be ok and is running around and peeping with the others in the brooder now. Sometimes you still get a late surprise when you almost gave up on them. Good luck hope you get more to hatch!

 

[bobbi-j]

The 21 days is a GUIDELINE not a hard and fast rule. Leave the hen and the eggs alone for a couple of more days. If you keep bugging her, she may leave the nest before they're all hatched. My feeling on broodies is to let nature take its course. Don't mess with them.

 

[ChickAficianado]

Well, it has been several days passed, so I decided to see if they didnt develop. One was alive, but after leaving it for awhile, it seemed it couldn't move to hatch itself. It also could not peep. I peeled off some of the shell, leaving it still perfectly formed in it's little white layer, but my Silkie wouldn't sit on it and I don't have an incubator. I thought she might take it if it hatched, but it had a red cord wrapped around it with some yolk stuff. (Which is why it couldnt move). It didn't make it once the cord broke. I feel bad, but I don't think it could have hatched itself. I'm very surprised that my Silkie wouldn't take it. Next time I'm going to let it die on its own as nature intended (in shell) or have an incubator.

 

[bobbi-j]

Incubators aren't the answer to everything, either. I don't know of anyone who has a %100 hatch with incubators. As a matter of fact, I think hatch rates are generally better with a broody. After all, the temperature, humidity and turning are all perfect since God made chickens to do this very thing.

I would guess that it was more of an issue with your eggs. Last time I had a broody, I let her sit for 25 days, then bought some chicks at the feed store for her to raise. I "eggtopsied" the eggs she was sitting on, and none were developed at all. As far as your silkie not taking the chick that you helped, it's probably because she knew there was something wrong with it. Chickens (and other animals) seem to know when a baby isn't healthy and tend to reject them. Nature's way - survival of the fittest. I'm sorry your hatch didn't turn out as you'd hoped, but don't give up. Keep trying and you will eventually get to watch a mama hen raising her babies.