Day 22 none hatched?

[Macey]

Hi, I've got 12 pheasant eggs and 36 chicken eggs in incubator and it's at day 22 and none have shown signs of hatching yet. Temp correct and humidity now 65degrees. However this is the first time at incubating fertilised eggs so I'm a newby, followed instructions but did make a mistake and only took out auto turner at day 20 and put on their sides. Have I ruined them, are they likely to hatch? I put them in on an evening so day 22 on counter was at 8pm if that makes any difference? Panicking now!

[Guest]

Dunno about pheasant eggs, but some chicken eggs can actually take up to 25 days depending on breed. Did you candle the eggs? on 5-7th day? was there a clear spider like pattern? if yes then fertility is fine. Other reasons for slow hatching unfortunately can just be weak embryos and any matter of things can affect that - parent lineage, mothers diet, treated tap water, weather and so on and so on.

It is worth cracking an egg once you have given up to be sure but 1 do it outside, 2 don't do it if you are a bit of a softy with animals, 3 100% sure the fertility is fine.

One last thing. Are there any strong egg smells or oozy eggs. They are a bad thing and should be found and removed ASAP as they can affect the others.

Just give them a little longer for now. Fingers crossed Oh and welcome to the vine

Edit: Just checked my hatching bible and it says pheasants are 24-25days. Just for future reference it is best practice not to mix eggs (breeds, but especially species)

Edit again: I doubt you ruined them. I have done some 'not to be mentioned' things in the past and still got results.

[Macey]

Thanks for the reply. I didn't candle then but I did later and some were dark at the top and small section at bottom was clear. No smells or anything coming from eggs, no cracks either, nor any movement. I was convinced I saw one move day 21 but I might have imagined that. Noted about mixing breeds/species, won't do that again! Just worried that none hatched especially with having 36 chicken eggs in, you'd think I'd have one hatch by now. Don't think it's an issue with fertility, I'm sure even as a newby that some are fertile, however I haven't removed a couple I think aren't fertilised or growing as I'm not 100% sure they aren't right yet. I know they should be removed just I wasn't totally confident eek. This is a total learning curve, I'll be gutted if none hatch. Will let you know outcome.

[Nicos]

I agree with NG.....
Hang on in there for a while.
At least another week as far as the chickens are concerned...(no idea about pheasants)

If you very gently tap one a few times and put it to your ear you may hear a chirp or a tapping sound when they are nearly ready to hatch.
If you very gently 'wobble'(not shake) the egg and it feels like there is something solid wobbling around inside then there may well be a dead chick...or yolk inside.
I've had 25 days in the past too.

[Scarlet]

I have briefly candled eggs at this late stage to double check. I've not got much patience If the chick is fully formed it's just a solid dark mass.

[Macey]

Checked again this morning and nothing...Didn't read the latest reply until now so will maybe candle one tonight when I get home. So if it doesn't 'wobble' does that mean the chick would be alive? Will it only wobble if the chick is dead (or if it's just a yolk). I'm impatient, and now I'm not going to be home until 6pm I'm going to be on edge all day! I've asked someone to go an check at lunch time just in case, they must think I'm mad...

Here's hoping that at least one hatches....otherwise it's been an expensive first go at it.

[Macey]

Sorry just another question Nicos you said you had some at 25 days, not a whole batch of them I'm guessing? Is it likely that at 23 days none out of 36 have hatched, or does it all depend on things like the quality of the embryo etc, so if I got them all from the same place then this could be the reason?

So I'm guessing I'm asking what's the probability that none would hatch at this late stage, but some might hatch at say 24 or 25 days, or whether it's an indication that something went wrong?

[Guest]

Where did you get your eggs from? If they were posted I will be surprised if you get any hatch. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Been there, done that. Have only known one person to get one to hatched when posted. Also there are some unscrupulous people out there as well. that will tell you great hatching rates, great stock and all that but it is cobblers (been there as well). The best ones are some old boy at the end of a track that says you can go claim what ever eggs you want of some Heinz chickens but you have to collect them.

Anyway, I am waffling. You still have a few more days

[Macey]

NG I did my research and purchase from a reputable seller, well known in the North East apparently. Their own driver brought them to me at my work so they didn't get sent in the post, I paid extra for personal delivery just in case as I'd read that receiving them through the post reduces the chances of success. So in theory, shouldn't be an issue with where I got them and didn't get them through the post, although they did travel maybe 10 miles before they got to me...although I'm guessing they were handled with care as it was the breeder that delivered them.

Just a waiting game I suppose, can't believe I'm so on edge about this, worse than going for a job interview!

Thanks for all your replies, will keep you posted, hopefully with good news.

[Nicos]

You do realise that I'm going to keep popping onto the Vine to see if there are any updates from you?

Exciting times...I really hope things work out.

[vixylix]

Fingers crossed for you Macey!

[Scarlet]

Where did you get your eggs from? If they were posted I will be surprised if you get any hatch. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Been there, done that. Have only known one person to get one to hatched when posted.

I've had posted eggs on many occasions and posted out some myself - never really had a problem.

[Guest]

I've had posted eggs on many occasions and posted out some myself - never really had a problem.

You had to be different didn't ya? It's nice to know that some people have success

[Nicos]

No news yet I see?....*sits on hands...

[Macey]

Sorry not been on was hopeful I'd have some proper news by now, but tonight is day 25 and no chicks so far...

We candled some eggs when I got home that day and got rid of 10 that were not good, they were just yolks inside with evidence they had been fertilised. A lot of the others seemed to be dark but with air sack is that right? Not sure what to do now, wait longer? Crack more open that I think are suspicious? I'm just not sure on all of the eggs, they seem dark inside? Should I take a picture and post her or not worth it??