Worst part of a hatch

[Prettiest Frog]

I'm staring at an incubator still 3/4s full with eggs that were due to hatch on the 4th and that showed progress all through, trying to determine if the peeping I am hearing is just my imagination, and wondering what the heck went wrong and when should I give up?

There was a temperature spike around day 10, but since all the eggs continued to show progress I assumed I'd caught it before it did any damage. It was cold the day they were delivered, but they weren't out in the weather for longer than it took the postman to bring them to the door.

The five that did hatch are all happy, healthy, and friendly little birds hopping around in the brooder and making contented chickey-noises.

 

[Paganbird]

I had 11 eggs due on the 4th.
One hatched last night at about 2:30 in the morning.
I candled the other 10 this morning & could still see movement along the airsac.
I'm leaving mine in for a couple more days.
They're in a cabinet 'bator that has had steady temp & humidity.
Who knows why they're taking so long, but if they're still alive... I'll let them take their time.

 

[silkiechicken]

Best of luck. I try not to open the bator to remove any hatched chicks until either day 22 or after all the chicks hatch because opening it can drop humidity and temps enough to stall or prevent the later ones from hatching.

 

[cluckcluck42]

I had my first hatch due on the 27th and they didn't start hatching til the 29th and finished up on the 30th.

This is my first hatch though so it could very well be user error, but I wonder if it is the weather? I am in Canada and its pretty darn cold up here, so I just wonder if anyone else has noticed their winter hatches tend to go a bit longer??

 

[Prettiest Frog]

Quote:
It was humid and warm where the incubator was, and the gauge barely fluctuated. One of the chicks kept pecking at the wafer, so I decided to take the risk.

I do still hear peeping, not going to toss them yet.

 

[Paganbird]

I left my one hatched chick in the 'bator. I just got another pip. I'm at the end of day#23.

 

[Prettiest Frog]

No pips, no peeps, le sigh, guess it's done.

I did learn from my husband that there had been another temperature spike on day 16 that he'd discovered in the morning, maybe that was it.

 

[Paganbird]

If you decide to give up on them, at least candle them to check for movement along the air sac before turning off the 'bator.
It's unfortunate that your hatch didn't go well.

 

[Prettiest Frog]

Quote:
Always do.

I think I'm going to retire this incubator after this.

 

[IggiMom]

I'm sorry. How discouraging.

Catherine