If you’ve been eagerly waiting for your cherished chicken eggs to hatch after sitting on them for 30 days, only to be met with disappointment when a little chick doesn’t emerge, you’re likely very distressed and concerned.
Not to worry – while a prolonged incubation period can certainly be cause for concern, there are several reasons hatching may be delayed or unsuccessful. By understanding the common causes and implementing a few key remedies, you can get your next batch of eggs to successfully hatch happy, healthy chicks.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: There are several reasons chicken eggs may not hatch after 30 days, including improper incubation temperature and humidity levels, poor egg fertility and quality, incorrect turning of eggs, and issues with the health of the hen.
Checking your incubator setup, egg freshness, and hen health can help resolve hatching problems.
Understanding Chicken Egg Incubation
Normal incubation period
The normal incubation period for a chicken egg is 21 days. However, some breeds may take a day or two longer, with hatching occurring between days 21-25. Large fowl breeds like Brahmas tend to have longer incubation times closer to 25 days, while smaller bantam breeds may hatch on day 21.
If eggs haven’t hatched by day 30, it’s a sign something has gone wrong. The most common reasons for late hatching or no hatching after 30 days include: incorrect incubation temperatures, humidity issues, not turning the eggs enough, eggs becoming too cold during the incubation process, infertility, and embryo death during incubation.
Signs of proper development
During the 21-25 day incubation period, properly developing embryos go through several stages inside the egg before hatching:
- Days 1-2: The egg’s inner membrane begins attaching to the shell.
- Days 3-6: The head, legs and wings become visible as lines.
- Days 8-10: Major organs like the heart, eyes and ears develop.
- Days 13-15: Feathers begin growing.
- Days 17-19: The beak turns toward the air cell.
- Days 19-21: The chick prepares to hatch by orienting itself towards the hole it will eventually break open.
Candling eggs with a bright light weekly allows you to see these developments. If candling shows a lack of veins, movement or proper embryo size for the incubation day, something has likely gone wrong with that egg’s growth.
Other signs of healthy incubation before hatching include:
- The air cell getting larger
- Pips forming as the chick starts externally cracking the shell with its egg tooth
- Cracks slowly moving around the shell as the chick rotates inside
- Chirping or peeping sounds coming from the egg
If day 30 comes and goes without any pips, cracks or sounds, the embryos likely died at some point.
Common Reasons Chicken Eggs Don’t Hatch
Incorrect incubation temperature
To incubate properly, chicken eggs need consistent temperatures between 99-102°F. Temperatures lower than 99°F or higher than 102°F can result in embryo deaths or malformations from slowed development [1]. An incubator with good temperature regulation and monitoring is essential.
Most still-air incubators only heat to 99-100°F, which leaves little leeway if temperatures fluctuate. Forced-air incubators are better at maintaining steady temps.
Improper humidity levels
Ideally, chicken egg incubation humidity should be around 50-55% in the first 18 days, then increased to 65% in the last 3 days before hatching [2]. Low humidity causes membranes in the egg to stick together or become hardened, preventing chick movement or causing deformities.
High humidity can drown the chick. Use an incubator hygrometer and carefully monitor humidity levels.
Insufficient egg turning
Turning the eggs prevents embryos from sticking to the shell membranes. Eggs should be turned a minimum of 3 times per day, at regular intervals, during the first 18 days of incubation. Missing turns or turning at irregular intervals can reduce hatch rates.
Mark eggs with an X on one side and O on the other to track turns. Automatic egg turners are excellent for proper, consistent turning.
Poor egg fertility or quality
Older hens tend to lay lower quality eggs. Nutrient deficiencies, stress, and disease issues in the hens can also lower fertility rates. Collect eggs frequently, store them properly before incubation, and candle them twice during incubation to check for problems.
Getting chicks from younger, healthy flocks will improve hatch rates.
Health issues in the hen
Infections and deficiencies in hens may cause embryonic mortality late in incubation when chicks fail to pip or hatch fully. Common culprits are mycoplasma and Salmonella infections or vitamin E/selenium deficiencies [3]. Test hens for pathogens and treat infections.
Feed good layer ration or supplements containing adequate vitamins/minerals. Cull old, unhealthy hens from breeding flocks.
Tips to Successfully Hatch Chicken Eggs
Regulate incubator temperature
Maintaining the proper temperature in your incubator is crucial for hatching healthy chicks. The ideal temperature is 99.5°F during the first 18 days of incubation and then increased to 100-102°F for the final 3 days when chicks prepare to hatch.
Temperatures that are too high or too low can result in embryo death or developmental issues. Investing in a quality incubator with good temperature regulation and a thermometer is important. You’ll want to monitor and adjust the temperature daily to keep it in the optimal range. Keeping those eggs warm and cozy will encourage great hatch rates!
Maintain proper humidity
In addition to temperature, closely regulating humidity levels inside your incubator is vital.Humidity should be around 40-50% for the first 18 days, then increased to 65% in the final days. Low humidity causes the egg to lose too much moisture, while high humidity hampers gas exchange.
Both issues can result in chick death. There are a few ways to control humidity – adding water pans in the incubator, using hydrated sponges or regulating a humidifier. Whatever method you choose, be diligent in observing humidity levels and making adjustments several times a day.Proper humidity encourages normal chick development.
Turn eggs correctly
Turning the eggs during incubation is necessary to prevent chick embryos from sticking to the side of the shell. Automated, rotating egg turners are ideal. If turning manually, eggs should be rotated at least 3 times per day – an odd number prevents the embryo from resting in the same position. Turning should occur slowly and gently to avoid shaking or jarring the embryos.
Stop turning eggs 3 days before they are due to hatch. Proper turning in the first 18 days prevents malformations and allows normal development as chicks grow inside the shell.
Select freshly laid, fertile eggs
Hatching success largely depends on the quality of the eggs incubated. Only use eggs that are freshly laid, ideally within the past week. Older eggs have weaker shells and compromise embryo development. Candling eggs after 5 days of incubation can confirm fertility and embryo growth.
Remove any eggs that are infertile or have stopped developing. Selecting eggs from healthy, well-fed hens leads to stronger embryos and better hatch rates. According to The Poultry Keeper, incubation of fresh, fertile eggs should yield at least an 80% hatch rate if conditions are properly maintained.
Ensure hen health and nutrition
The health and diet of hens producing hatching eggs significantly influences the vitality of embryos and hatchability. Ensure hens are fed a quality poultry layer feed formulated for breeding birds. This provides sufficient protein for egg production and proper chick development.
Supplementing feed with calcium for strong egg shells is also advised. Keep hens free of illness and parasites, allow outdoor access for natural light, and collect eggs frequently. Reduce stressors that can affect hen health.
According to extension poultry specialists, eggs from hens fed inadequate diets may hatch chicks that are weak or deformed with low survival rates. Making hen health a priority leads to robust hatchlings.
When to Give Up on Unhatched Eggs
Signs embryos have died
If your fertilized eggs haven’t hatched after the typical 21-day incubation period, there could be an issue. Check for signs that the embryos inside have died before continuing to incubate unnecessarily:
- Candling the eggs to see inside – If you shine a bright light through the egg, a healthy embryo will be visible with blood vessels, but a dead one may look like a ring or blob.
- Lack of pip marks or cracks – After 21 days, chicks often start poking small holes or cracks in their shell as they get ready to hatch. No signs of this could signal death.
- Egg feels lightweight – Dense, heavy eggs likely still have growing chicks inside. Light, fragile-feeling ones may have died off.
If multiple eggs show these warning signs, the embryos likely passed away at some point and will not hatch viable chicks.
Dangers of rotting eggs
Leaving non-developing eggs to incubate for too long comes with risks. As embryos die off, bacteria multiply rapidly inside the eggs, causing them to rot. According to chicken experts, dangers of expired eggs include:
- Foul odors emitting from incubator
- Exploding eggs due to gas buildup inside
- Illness spread to healthy hatching chicks
Rotting eggs pose a severe hazard to the rest of the hatching flock. It’s critical to remove them once you confirm the embryos have died in order to avoid endangering or contaminating the live chicks.
Disposing of unhatched eggs
First, carefully remove the non-viable eggs from the incubator without rupturing them. You can double bag them in sealed plastic bags and dispose in household trash.
However, if you want to investigate why your eggs didn’t hatch, crack them open over a bowl to examine the embryo inside. Look for the following:
| No embryo | The egg was infertile/never fertilized |
| Early-stage embryo | Development stopped very early on |
| Mid-development embryo | Environmental factors impacted incubation |
| Fully-formed embryo | Chick died right before hatching |
Finding underdeveloped embryos points to incubation problems like inconsistent temperature, humidity issues, poor air flow, or turning errors. An autopsy can provide valuable insights to improve conditions for next time.
Properly disposing of unhatched eggs keeps your incubator safe for the still-growing chicks. Don’t hesitate to remove dead eggs once approximately 30 days have passed to avoid contamination.
Next Steps After Hatch Failure
Adjust incubation conditions
If your eggs fail to hatch after the expected 30-day incubation period, carefully review and adjust your incubation conditions. The most common issues that prevent hatching are incorrect temperature, humidity, ventilation or egg turning. The optimal incubation temperature is 99.5-100°F.
Ideal humidity levels range between 45-55% in the first 18 days, then increase to 60% in the last 3 days before hatching. Make sure your incubator is properly ventilated and that eggs are turned at least 3 times per day in the first 18 days.
Fine-tuning these conditions creates the perfect environment for embryos to develop and hatch.
Allow hen to rest before trying again
It can be disheartening when eggs fail to hatch, but don’t allow the hen to try again right away. She needs time to recover and regenerate. Give her 1-2 months off from laying to regain normal ovary functioning, replenish her calcium and nutrients, and de-stress.
During this R&R period, make sure she has unlimited access to layer feed, oyster shells for extra calcium, and freshwater. You can also give her scrambled eggs with the shells mixed in – the extra nutrition will help prepare her body for the next clutch.
The break allows the hen’s reproductive system to reset for her next optimal chance at successfully hatching chicks.
Consult a veterinarian if needed
If adjusted incubation parameters and hen rest periods still result in hatch failures, consult an avian veterinarian, or poultry extension office through your state’s land-grant university. They can assess overall flock health and identify underlying issues interfering with your hens’ fertility and the embryos’ development.
Microbial infections, vitamin deficiencies, genetic issues or environmental contamination could all inhibit successful hatching. For example, mycotoxins from moldy feed can impact fertility and increase embryonic mortality.
Diagnostic testing and tailored treatment plans from experts can get your hatch right back on track.
For additional troubleshooting, Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences recommends checking egg storage and transport conditions before setting eggs, and not incubating extra-large/oversized eggs which tend to experience higher rates of hatch failure.
They also provide incubation tips like discarding eggs that don’t hatch by day 22 since those likely stopped developing, and warn leaving unhatched eggs can accelerate bacteria growth and risk contaminating newly hatched chicks.
With some adjustments, rest, and veterinary guidance, your hen and her eggs can successfully move from incubation to adorable hatchlings running around. Don’t allow a few failed hatches to ruffle your feathers.
Simply apply these practical next steps to get your flock’s fertility back on the right track.
Conclusion
While waiting endlessly for chicken eggs to hatch can end in disappointment, understanding the most common reasons hatching fails empowers you to troubleshoot problems and increase your chances of success next time.
With some careful adjustments to your incubation setup, egg selection, and hen health and nutrition, you’ll be rewarded with the sight of adorable, healthy chicks emerging right on schedule. Don’t abandon hope if your first try doesn’t go perfectly – take the lessons learned and try again for a bounty of bouncing baby chicks.
