when looked under a candle, what if it's all black ?

[Tala]

So they don't look 90% black like the day 18 photos?? All black is good, it means a chick is filling up the space. Eggwhites are clear, chicks are not

If the eggs don't hatch the hen may just give up on them. Mine did.
If not, you may need to check up on the "how to break a broody" threads because she'll need to get back to eating normally after all this time.

 

[MamaChic21]

she looks really determined

but lets see. Maybe tomorrow they'll hatch

and we'll all be doing

it looked nothing from those pic's of https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=261876
maybe I didn't look at it at pure darkness. My hubby was holding the hen and he kept coming toughts me, I'm like move her away from the nest box, cause I don't know what she'll do. Then he said don't touch the egg, well there is a heated lamp on the coop, how can I look with a flash light in a lighted nest box ? I held two eggs (one at a time) and didn't see nothing. Then my son and hubby rushed back inside cause it's pretty cold here. I'm bagging him now to go back out there, but unfortunately he won't

 

[funnybirds]

Quote:
Yes, you place the flashlight under the flower pot with the light beam shining directly under the hole in the pot.( I just balance my pot on the flashlight, but this is a risky. Get the cats outta the room first!) I cover with a damp paper towel (only one thickness), and then set it up right next to the bator, in a very dark room. I check with the large end up first then turn the egg very gently to the side and spin it slowly until I can see whats going on in there.

With white eggs it works very well. With my colored eggs , its very tough. Mostly I can only make out a faint outline of dark mass and a small amount of the "air space" area.

Currently I have 5 EE eggs in the bator on lockdown and have no clue if any of them are even viable. But there was a mass, so there you go.

 

[MamaChic21]

Thank you and good luck with your eggs. Yesterday around 2pm, the fist chic came out. The baby chic is with her mama inside the garage at their broody home. But no more eggs hatched after that. Three nights ago, I did check her eggs, and 10 out of 16 seemed to be black. Now when do the others suppose to hatch ? The mama hen won't get up, even for feeding. I put the food right next to her, she ate but didn't drink any water, that makes me worried. The baby chic ate with her. I put two portable heaters, (it's cold in the garage) and a heating light right over the broody home. ( you can see it on my BYC page, at the bottom of the page). The mama hen won't tuck her baby under. She won't get up to teach her about the feeding and water. Should I be concerned ?

 

[Tala]

Quote:
The baby doesn't really have to eat for 2 days, up to 3 really. I bet the mama is waiting on more eggs to hatch is why she's not taking the chick out yet. If she doesn't tuck it under to keep it warm, maybe she's just not a very good mama? Sounds like you've got it covered with the lamps though.

 

[MamaChic21]

Thank you

but it's been more then 24 hours since the 1st hatch. But in the meanwhile, I love to watch the baby chic doing some tricks to her mom. Priceless....