Heard chirping about 24 hours ago, no more since...HELP

[BellaChick1]

We are on day 21 tonight, heard chirping last night before bed almost 24 hours ago. My son opened the incubator for a moment and i quickly closed it. Humidity only dropped to maybe 60% but went back up fairly quick. I was hoping to see a hatched chick this morning but nothing. I have not heard anymore chirping at all. From the windows it does not appear any have pipped through their shell. Any suggestions? This is killing me as they were set to hatch close to Christmas for my kids and if none of 30 hatch they will be devastated
Thanks for any thoughts or ideas.
Bella.

 

[Pyxis]

Can you candle them to check if they are internally pipped? If you heard peeping at least one probably is. It may have made just a small crack in the shell as its pip that you cannot see. Opening the incubator will not hurt them. Just make sure the humidity gets back up. 60% isn't even really low for lockdown.

Other questions would be are you using still air or forced air and what has your temperature been like throughout incubation? And the humidity? What date did you set the eggs on?

 

[FridayYet]

All great questions, Pyxis. The more information we have, the better it will be to help you figure out what is going on.

Have you been monitoring the air cells?

 

[BellaChick1]

Thank you... I set the eggs Dec 5 at night, in a hovabator still air. Temps have been 101 constantly at top of eggs, kept humidity at 45-50 until day 18 them upped it to 65-75... Candled the day 7, 10, 14, and 18. Some you're could see veins and growth. I took out 5 definite duds, some the eggs were so dark I couldn't see a thing even back on the 7th day. I haven't heard and more chirping and they don't appear to be moving or rocking. Thanks for any advice!

 

[Pyxis]

So, your temp was a little low, as 101.5 is the recommended temp to keep it at the top of the egg. That may have slowed the hatch down. Also that humidity is a bit high, at least for me - if I'd kept it that high in my area all my eggs would have died as the chicks would have drowned in the shells. The humidity needed does vary by area though. How did your air cells look when you were candling?

I'd say at this stage you could candle them to see if you have any internal/external pips, or just give them another day and see what happens.

 

[BellaChick1]

The air cells kept getting larger and larger and at this point I candled them last night, looked great or at least matched with the pictures I had seen online said they should look like but I cannot tell if there was any internal pipping. I'm not sure what to look for with that

 

[duluthralphie]

The air cells kept getting larger and larger and at this point I candled them last night, looked great or at least matched with the pictures I had seen online said they should look like but I cannot tell if there was any internal pipping. I'm not sure what to look for with that

if you candled last night did you see any movement in any of the eggs? You should have. Look closely while candling and you can see something move in that many eggs.

 

[Pyxis]

Here is a picture of an internal pip, basically what you are looking for is a moving triangular shadow in the air cell:

This picture isn't mine, I borrowed it from one of the hatching threads I belong to.

 

[BellaChick1]

I saw nothing like that... now I'm worried my thermometer is way off... I should have bought the digital one!

 

[FridayYet]

Digital thermometers can be off, too. That's why it is good to have one that you can calibrate.

Maybe your temps were a bit low and they are delayed a bit. Fingers crossed here!