started hatching on January 31st it is now february 28th and the day that I was to dispose of them! I was woken up this morning to a pecking sound and sure enough there were eggs moving about!!!! My daughter started them for a science project and we had told her that if they didnt hatch by today we were going to bury them, well as I stated "there is now pecking and movement!" Help, if they do hatch will they be ok? They were to hatch on or about, the 21st day, right? Anyway I am not sure now what to do? I guess its possible that they are not chickens? trying to get ahold of the farmer that gave them to us and she is away! We did candle and they looked like they were forming well? Lost power this past week for 12 hours, but managed to keep them at about 92 degrees, could this have put them off that much???
Farming Friends Forum » Incubating and Hatching Eggs
how long is too long for hatching chicken eggs?
(4 posts)-
Posted 3 years ago #
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Hi rjbtalia,
Welcome to the farmingfriends forum,
I always leave eggs in the incubator at least a week after the incubation date so that any late hatchers have the chance to hatch out. In the next 24hours watch for pipping this is where the chicks peck through the egg shell. If they pip through and are still moving after along time but don't manage to get themselves out then you will have to decide if you are going to help the chicks out. http://farmingfriends.com/should-you-help-ducklings-hatch-out-of-their-shell-once-the-shell-has-pipped/
Good luck with the hatch - let us know how they get on.
Lots of things affect the timing of the hatch http://farmingfriends.com/reasons-for-eggs-hatching-late/
Kind regards
Sara @ farmingfriendsPosted 3 years ago # -
Thanks Sara,
I have not seen or heard much of any activity since yesterday morning, so sad. I think we must declare this a failed hatch at this point, I plan to candle them this after noon when I get home and dispose of them with a proper burial for my daughters sake, as she is vey saddend. Although we read and were aware of the risk, we didn't really think we would have any problems, well we hoped we wouldn't. We will try another hatch in about a month, when it's warmer and hopefully the weather will be better with no power outages, etc. Thanks again for you wisdom, very much appreciated.
RjbtaliaPosted 3 years ago # -
Don't be too hasty in writing them off. Pick each one up and put it to your ear. If they are alive you will hear faint chirping and or tapping. You will also feel movement in your hand through the shell. You may even see a small patch on the egg that looks like it is being chipped away from within.
If an egg smells bad or is discoloured/blotchy then the chick has died.
fingers crossed.
Sarah LSarah LPosted 3 years ago #
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