Chook Me!

Our chicken eggs have now been in the incubator for 21 days. Should I see any movement before the piping?

I have four chicken eggs in the incubator. Today is the 21st day. Should I see any movement at all?

Public Comments

1. EAT THEM NOW
2. Hi You won't see actual egg movement, the way that they are curled in the egg makes it v.difficult to rock the egg when on a solid surface. Two things you can try :- 1. Pick up an egg and tap with your finger on the shell, GENTLY! Hold it to your ear and you might hear tapping or cheeping back. 2. Fill a large bowl (like 3 or 4 times the size of an egg) with hand hot water. (Warmer than blood heat, but NOT unbearable, say 40Centigrade). GENTLY place an egg in the water, broad end up, pointy end down. Water will settle watch egg for about 2-3minutes, if the chick is alive the egg will twitch, quite obviously. Return egg to incubator. If the eggs have not hatched by 23 days, they are probably dead/infertile. Especially if they did not 'twitch''. To check tap GENTLY at the broad end and remove a very small bit of egg shell, you really don't want to open up a rotten egg. Examine and get a book...or contact me for more info. Good luck Taz Ps. the warm water test can done for most domestic birds in the final week of incubation...can't say all as have not kept all.