When to assume a hatch is finished??

chickedydoodaa

Taking a break
10 Years
Feb 8, 2009
190
1
119
Philadelphia PA
It has now been 16 hours since the first chick hatched.

13 have made it out of the 28 eggs. If they are done hatching then I have a lot to be grateful and happy for.

A couple more have pipped but I do not see movement.

The chicks are now drying nicely. I will check in the morning (which will have given the hatch 24-28 hrs) see if anything else is happening, if not then I may just accept that natures hatching job is complete and I can move the dry chicks to the brooder. Do you think that sounds about right?

I also have to hustle because I already have new eggs here and my new bator did not show up and I think it would be wise to get them in a bator sooner rather than later.
 
leave em! you know it can be hours after they pip that they zip... they could be just resting and having the chicks in there with them peeping will encourage them.

New eggs can probably [edit] keep a little while, depending on how long since they hatched and how long did they travel?
 
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I've found that from the first chirps and pip it takes 12-14 hours - the later pipping eggs need the same amount of time too - if they pip later, it still takes them 12-14 hours to come out.

I wouldn't get too worried - won't hurt to leave the eggs in with the already hatched peepers.
 
Ok very good I am quickly convinced by my new 'family' on BYC. I was more concerned about the new eggs, I have had them sitting for two days in a turner in a cool room, I am assuming that the shipper sent the freshest of eggs, so at the very most they could be by now 5-6 days old. I have read mixed reviews as far as the keeping of fresh fertile eggs, some say a week some say 3 weeks, what do you have to say?

Thank you
 
I leave mine go until day 25, unless they started late then I let them go a few more days. It's way too soon for you to throw in the towel!

As far as the eggs, we've never let ours go past 7 days but we've read they'll be ok up to two weeks. I'd say 10 days would be the max but that's JMHO.
 
I start checking eggs 24hrs after no progress on any egg. If there are new pips wait another 24hrs. If one finishes hatching I still wait 24hrs to check the rest. Then you should carefully check the remaining unpipped eggs by candling for movement and poking a hole in the end with the air cell. I have poked a hole in the egg to hear peeping and put it back to have a chick hatch days late. It happens alot. I've heard of people throwing eggs away days after a hatch and hearing peeping from the trash can. For that reason I always check an egg and never throw any away without breaking them.
 
peeping in the trash can
smile.png
that made me chuckle

Thank you for your feed back! much appreciated
 
Quote:
After 3 weeks the viability will be close to zero.

Generally, kept under ideal conditions, egg will remain viable for about 7 days. Expect a 10% drop off for every day in excess of 7.
 

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