Hatching eggs - should they all have hatched by day 21?

[saltyseadog]

The first of the eggs under my broody hatched this afternoon :o (Day 20).

There are five eggs remaining - should I give up hope of the others hatching if they don't hatch tomorrow, or is there a slight variation in incubation times?

There can be a slight variation so give her a little more time - a few days.

Congratulations on your new chicks!

I had a whole batch of 12 standard rhode island reds hatch at 24/25 days, and everything i read said give up after 23, so, who knows!

My last lot of 25 hatched out over a five day period so don't give up. You can usually hear them pipping the day before they hatch. I often have one egg that hatches out well before the others. I'd leave until day 25. Good luck!

Thanks everyone. So far 3 healthy chicks :), one more hatching but very slowly and two eggs that are just, well, dormant.

Being a chicken mumma is very stressful!

That's good . Some pop out really quickly and some can take 24hrs plus. Some just don't hatch .

One died this morning . By the time I could get to the vets it had died. It's leg was deformed, so it didn't stand a chance. Both dh and I cried.

The remaining two unhatched eggs have been abandoned by my broody - she is otherwise occupied being all maternal. Fortunately the other three chicks seem well and perky :).

but you have three healthy chicks which is good.

Absolutely :)

Congratulations chicken mama!

Thank you! I hope your new crew are settling in well and contemplating laying :).

Thanks - they are lovely and known as 'the triplets' as they're out and about and up to mischief. I've a few pictures on 'the other place'!

Will go and have a look at 'the other place' - if I'm thinking of the right other place :o.

Yes - the name's very similar to mine here!