Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[sugarmouse]

This is my 4th time of hatching eggs and my 1st with a broody pekin hen but today was hatch day and its passed without so much as a squeak or a crack.

I had 3 brahma eggs under her, i did a quick candle about 4 days ago and i could see movement in 1 for sure.

How long do you think i should give them before removing and seeing what went wrong, also can natural incubation take longer than artificial (just clutching at straws here)

[Egluntyne]

I'd leave them 2 or three more days. You never know.

[chuckmum6]

What day are you on? I wouldn't give up just yet, they might just be taking their time before putting in an a appearance!

[sugarmouse]

Its day 22 and we have heard faint pipping but no cracks yet, do you think we should help them out?

[Griffin]

Stand back and leave well alone! I've had broodies hatch their chicks on day 24, it all depends on how often she's left the nest and how constant the temperature was under her. The mothers of the day 24 chick were quite useless, often went out for hours at a time and regularly lost eggs out the back of their knickers allowing them to get cold And just last week I had an egg hatch three days after it's oldest sibling under a broody. Once one chick is out it'll encourage the others to hatch too.

[lotz2612]

I have bantams and when ever I have left eggs under a broodie..it has taken about 4weeks for them to hatch...dont give up hope just yet!