when will they hatch?

[Silkie Sue]

Hi,
I've read that chickens hatch in 21 days give or take a couple
When do you give up hope?
I haven't yet but it is frustrating.
My Silkie hen has been sitting since May 31st which would make this 23 days.Nothing has hatched yet. I have 9 eggs left out of 12. The last cracked one was a couple days ago and it did have a dead chick in it, so I'm pretty sure my rooster is doing his job.
Anybody?

 

[justusnak]

Can you candle the eggs to make sure they are still alive? Will she let you? If they are still alive, give them another 2 or 3 days.

Let us know!

 

[andischickenfarm]

This is a tough one. I really don't know the answer either! But, I'll tell you what I do: I give them 3 days after the "due date" to hatch then the ones that hasn't hatched I take them out side and gently crack them open just in case they are alive. I'll be honest, most of the time they're not. But, you never know. Now I did have a bantam setting on 7 eggs and after 5 of them hatch I noticed that the next day she was off the nest and showing her chicks what to do. So I guess she gave them one more day. And I checked them eggs and they were no good. So some how Buffy knew they wasn't going to hatch. Hope this helps and good luck with you hatching!

Andi

 

[chrissieg]

You could try the water test. Float them in a bowl of warm water (same temperature as the eggs). If they move about there is still a live chick in there - if not

 

[Silkie Sue]

Hi,
it's me again...I just came from the barn and still nothing yet.
Thank you all for your great suggestions I'll try them out today and let you know how we make out.

 

[chrissieg]

 

[Silkie Sue]

Hi Guys,
I tried the water test and candling and still no definite answers so...... seeing how it is day 24 I figured I had nothing to lose.
I started opening one on the larger end ( this shell was really really hard is that normal I'm not sure a chick could have gotten out if it wanted to). Inside there was an air pocket and the inner membrane looked healthy, I could see the chicks head but it was not alive. I took it all out and it was pretty much fully formed complete with little feathers. I don't know what the different stages are but he almost made it. My hen has not left that nest in over 3 weeks maybe I seen her a couple times for no longer than 10 minutes off of it.
I have 7 eggs left. Should I leave them a few more days?
Thank you for your advise.