I have not been here for a while but now I have some questions I hope someone can answer.

 

In this last clutch the mother did'nt incubate so much in the beginning. There are 6 eggs and they all are fertilized. Egg 1 and 2 hatched after 23 days respectively. Egg 3 has not hatched and egg 4 is today 24 days old, egg 5 is 22 days and egg 6 is 20 days. Is there still hope for egg 4? Is there a record of how old an egg could be and still hatched?

I don't know if there is a record but I wouldn't give up on it untill it reaches around 30days. I'd let the hen decide. She should through it out if it goes on too long.

have you candled to see if they are still alive?

have you candled to see if they are still alive?

 

No, I hav'nt. Is it possible to se if the baby is still alive? I did'nt know that. The eggs looks very dark and "filled out", like they do before hatching, but yet there has not been any more babies.

If you hold a small torch up to the egg somewhere dark you should be able to see movement in the egg. I have seen their shadow as they pick at the shell to get out! But dont presume they are dead if you dont happen to see any movement, there's not a lot of room in the shell. I would wait a few more days before doing anything hasty.

Sometimes the egg can be so full of chick that when you candle them they look just all dark and almost rotten.. Id not remove any eggs as the hen will remove them when she is ready, I once had an egg that i was considering removing but decided to leave it a day, lucky i did as it hatched a few days later Now i just leave them alone and let the mum work it all out

okay, tanks all for your help. I'll let her decide!