HELP!! Twin embryos in a Blue Silkie egg

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Carriedz

Carriedz

In the Brooder
7 Years
Feb 9, 2012
37
0
22
California
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-an-air-sac-at-day-12-should-i-see-one-by-now
This is only the second time that I have incubated and candled eggs. I was so surprised to find two very dark embryos moving energetically around in there! The egg is on day 10, and I have no Idea what to do? I am using a Mini advanced Brinsa incubator with auto turning, digital temp at 99.5, and 1 of the two pots with water as the instructions advise to maintain the correct humidity. I know there is nothing that I can do for them for the next 10 days, other than candle them for progress, but should I put it in lock-down to stop it rotating on day 18? Seems to me I should continue to have it rotate so neither chick will always be on top.

Any suggestions, if they make it to day 21 on how to get them out? I have watched the one video from 2009 by "needmorechickens", that was very helpful! Thank you for posting that video!!!!

These are the best pictures I can get, but both dark area's are moving independently of each other. Day 10

584





Any advise would be appreciated. Thank you
 
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Wow what are the chances! I would let it go and see what happens.
Assisting in a hatch is a tricky deal. I have found that if they don't make a
good hole in the egg themselves then it is not meant to be. Best
wishes I love my silkies.
 
Not sure about it in chickens, but if those guys or one of them do survive to full term I would think their offspring would carry the twin egg gene too and you will have more high risk incubations. If they don't make it then it's just nature telling you 'oops that was a failed experiment'. I wonder that if one died early on if the other one would just absorb it. Usually in mammal pregnancys the mother absorbs a dead fetus, but every so often there is another fetus absorbing the other and in very rare occasions it just mummifies. It will be interesting to see what happens, nothing you can do really, just keep incubating normally.
 
Just keep incubating. Nothing you can really do. Probably one will die, sorry, maybe both. But if they do both survive to hatching, be prepared to help them out.
 
I don't have a rooster so I'm not quite sure but if they both make it to day 21 then congrats, but you should just let them incubate normally. If they make a hole you could try to help them but otherwise... hope you have two healthy chicks.:)
 
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I don't know about backyard chickens but after working on an R&D Farm for one of the big poultry producers in the country, I can tell you that they cull double yolked eggs in the hatchery because they say it can't hatch out. There isn't enough room or yolk inside for two chicks to develop, that's just the policy. It'll be interesting to see if they will hatch out... I hope you'll keep us updated!
 
Thank you to all for your responses, I am hopeful but aware of the worst possible outcome.
The video is not very cleat in the beginning but gets better at the end. I will probably not candle them for a 3 or 4 more days to see how things are going.
 

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