Eggs are not hatching

[hat.him]

My zebra finches laid 4 eggs. It has been somewhere around 15-20 day since they were laid. It is said that they hatch at around 12 days. Any reason? Also, how to check by candling them?

[Sally]

Here is an excellent thread on candling, with photos showing what you should see:

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8295

I always wait at least a week (if not more) after the eggs should have hatched before tossing them. I can't always be positive when they started incubating, rather than just going in and out of the nest.

[hat.him]

Here is an excellent thread on candling, with photos showing what you should see:

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8295

I always wait at least a week (if not more) after the eggs should have hatched before tossing them. I can't always be positive when they started incubating, rather than just going in and out of the nest.

Thank you so much,really appreciate your suggestion

[cindy]

you count from the time the hen starts incubation not when the eggs were laid, hens usually start sitting tight around egg 3 or 4

[hat.him]

you count from the time the hen starts incubation not when the eggs were laid, hens usually start sitting tight around egg 3 or 4

I am aware of that fact. They started incubating after the 4th egg was laid, it has been around 15-20 days. I'm sorry that I didn't mention that up there.

[hat.him]

Here is an excellent thread on candling, with photos showing what you should see:

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8295

I always wait at least a week (if not more) after the eggs should have hatched before tossing them. I can't always be positive when they started incubating, rather than just going in and out of the nest.

I see no veins while candling the is only an air sack and some yellow part.

[Sally]

I would say then that the eggs are infertile. Infertile eggs will have a large air sack at one end and the yellow yolk that you see. At this point, I would toss them.

[hat.him]

I would say then that the eggs are infertile. Infertile eggs will have a large air sack at one end and the yellow yolk that you see. At this point, I would toss them.

I only managed to check two eggs, and they both had no veins. As I mentioned, there was this yellow stuff in one and the other one had a dark substance, almost brown in color. Is that infertile too?

[monotwine]

Sometimes a dark egg is one with a chick inside or a dead one.
Only way is to leave the eggs for a little longer and wait till parents abandon the nest. They know best.