I have 10 eggs in my incubator and my hatch date is not for 2 days. I have to eggs that a piping and starting to hatch. How long does the hatching process take and sgould I be worried about the chicks that are hatching early. This is my first attempt at hatching my own eggs, advice would be appreciated.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), May 17, 2001

Answers

I have heard that if the temperature is a little high the eggs may hatch early. Of course differt fowl have different hatching times. I have had chicks peeping a couple days before the hatch and that is normal also. I've heard that the peeping encourages the others to hurry up. If the chicks are healthy, I would not worry. Also if some don't hatch right away I leave the eggs in for a few extra days.

Have fun.

-- Tom S. (trdsshepard@yahoo.com), May 17, 2001.

I am happy to say I have 4 healthy chicks and 4 more eggs hatching at the moment. 1 died in the shell and 2 I candled and wernt full developed. I guess 8 out of 11 isnt bad for my first try. This is way to cool..

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), May 18, 2001.

Sounds like you did really well. No matter how particular I am about the temperature, my chicks almost always start pipping the shell two days early.

-- Lela Picking (stllwtrs55@aol.com), May 24, 2001.