Eggs not hatching

kendra2003

11 years ago

I'm sure I've read this before, but couldn't find it. How long do you wait for the eggs to hatch before candling them to see if they're viable. My blues have five eggs which were due to hatch on the 25th. So they're only two days overdue. However, this has never happened to me before. The parents are attentive to the nest and come for mealworms every day. I checked today and the eggs are intact and warm, so they are still being brooded. I'm just concerned because I've never had them hatch this late before. Anyone with experience with this?

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Comments (10)

Ninapearl
11 years ago
sometimes she won't start incubating for a few days after the last egg is laid. at least, that has been my experience a few times. might just be she started late and you'll have to add a couple of days on to your calculation. :)
lisa11310
11 years ago
Just sit on your hands.....they don't read the books. LOL there have been eggs hatch as old as 21+ days, it's usually miss calculation but some just take longer. Leave them for another week.
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kendra2003
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks so much Ninapearl and Lisa. I've been doing this for years and have never had them not hatch on time. Not even in an ice storm. So I've had no experience with this. Hopefully they'll hatch in a day or two. I appreciate you sharing your experience. It will help me "sit on my hands" for now.
ohsoblue77
11 years ago
Kendra you may also want to look for "pipping" Which is the tiny spots where the chicks poke up from under the shell. You will also start to see tiny cracks in the eggs.

I've had a couple cases of late hatching. It's all relative. The advice the others gave you is great.

Good luck!

Tim
NE Ohio
kendra2003
Original Author
11 years ago
There is no pipping yet. Normally I don't check the box more than twice a week, but I've been checking it daily for signs that these eggs will hatch. They will be a week overdue on Thursday. I'll keep checking the box in the afternoons when it's warm and she is out of the box. If they don't hatch by Thursday, I doubt she'll keep sitting. They seem to know when too much time has passed and they need to start over. Hopefully they'll hatch though.
lisa11310
11 years ago
Don't forget to mark the eggs first to be sure they are not being turned.!
kendra2003
Original Author
11 years ago
The eggs were being turned and were warm. However, I just felt something was very wrong as they still hadn't hatched as of today. I tried candling them, and they are totally empty. I know how to candle eggs as I have pet birds, and these eggs were never fertilized. Zero growth and a huge air space. I certainly won't be getting three clutches this year. I know the parent birds will figure it out, so I'll just leave them for now. Mister Blue has been checking out a different box (the one they usually use for their second clutch) so hopefully they'll start over again soon. Bummer. I always love the first clutch as there are no worries about the HOWR yet.
kendra2003
Original Author
11 years ago
Thought I'd update on the infertile eggs. The Bluebirds finally gave up on them and are now building a new nest in a different box. I know I should save the old nest for emergencies. When should I remove the contents of the old nest? Do I wait until the first egg is laid in the new box, or just remove them now? I've never had an unsuccessful nesting, so this part is new to me.
ohsoblue77
10 years ago
Kendra, I would probably just wait until the new eggs are layed.

Of my remaining 2 pairs, one had 4 eggs that also have not hatched. The pair has remained interested in the boxes but has quit incubating the eggs, which seem to be starting to be covered.

~Tim
NE Ohio
dzyg
10 years ago
Kendra, if they aren't showing any interest in the box with the infertile eggs, you should be able to remove the nest whenever you want. It shouldn't bother them since they have started a new nest.