What should I do? Please help.

[GothChick]

Ok so my eggs were due on the 28th but 2 of them hatched on the 27th and the last 3 hatched on the 28th. I waited until tonight but none of the other eggs have even pipped and the incubator is starting to smell. I can't tell which eggs are smelling. Should I attempt to break open the remaining eggs? How should I start breaking them safely incase there are chicks alive inside? Please help any advice is great!

 

[TheFarmMama]

Just leave them be, that's the best thing you can do. If they haven't pipped you can't assist them and generally when they don't pip something went wrong during development and they would have hatched with a problem and possibly even have died soon after. It's always sad when some of the eggs don't hatch but that's not up to you, that's up to the bird so you have to trust it was for a good reason. If there are no pips on the remaining eggs, take a quick peek to see if you can see any movement or signs that they have pipped the airsac inside. If you see neither, then they probably didn't make it and the smell is more than likely coming from the already hatched eggs. The old blood and yolks get stinky pretty quick. Hope that helps.

 

[Mahonri]

I've candled and listened at this pioint in the hatch before.

I've saved at least four or five chicks that have pipped internally and I've helped them out.

I candle to see where to pip them.

I had one that was so ready that it hatched within minutes of my pipping it.

It's smart to candle and listen because if it's rotten you don't want to break the egg.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Quote:
Candling and listening for peeps and taps is very good advice.
Not breaking a rotten egg is good advice, too!