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Clear and simple instructions on float test please

post #1 of 12
6/21/12 at 11:27am
Thread Starter 

hi i was wondering how to do a float test, but i have read many and still not understood, please can someone describe it simply to me, thanks

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post #2 of 12
6/21/12 at 11:46am

Do you mean the float test that measures how old an egg is???? 

if so...

as an egg ages the air cells will get larger,causing the egg to float because of all the air in the egg.(and make sure to use fresh water,no salt! and use a clear dish that is deep)

 

a fresh egg will not or very barley float

a one week old egg will make about a 45 degree angle

a 2-3 week egg will stand on its end

a very old egg will float at the top of the dish

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post #3 of 12
6/21/12 at 11:50am
Thread Starter 
Hi really sorry I forgot to mention its to see if a chick is still alive after still not hatching on day 23
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post #4 of 12
6/21/12 at 11:52am

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/383525/float-testing-checking-egg-viability-for-late-or-overdue-hatching

 

My Zoo (Click to show)

One Golden Sebright rooster 

One OEGB hen
Four Rhode Island Reds; two roosters, two hens. 
Twenty-nine American Games; Sweater, Grey, Hatch and a few mutts.
 
One Green Cheeked Conure
One Hahns Macaw
 
Coturnix Quail 
 
Three dogs; a Border Collie mutt, Beagle mutt and Lab mutt
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<whew>
 

 

 

 

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My Zoo (Click to show)

One Golden Sebright rooster 

One OEGB hen
Four Rhode Island Reds; two roosters, two hens. 
Twenty-nine American Games; Sweater, Grey, Hatch and a few mutts.
 
One Green Cheeked Conure
One Hahns Macaw
 
Coturnix Quail 
 
Three dogs; a Border Collie mutt, Beagle mutt and Lab mutt
One cat
One rabbit; Mini lop
 
<whew>
 

 

 

 

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post #5 of 12
6/21/12 at 11:53am

The float test never works for me. We tried it on about 10 eggs after my hen decided that she was tired of being broody and abandoned the nest. Every single egg floated. So, we thought, "These eggs are bad" and so I cracked one open just to check. There was a live baby chick inside of it a few days away from hatching. It was awful! hit.gifThat poor baby chick died and I have not trusted the float test since. We ended up having 7 eggs out of the 10 hatching even though they all floated. In my opinion, if I were you, I would not take the float test too seriously. I know that it didn't work for me and I lost a baby chick because of it. 

I have 18 chickens, one kitten, 3 dogs, 2 hermit crabs, and live on 20 acres in the country. I am CrAzY about chickens and plan on getting more! I am continually working to better my chicken practices and to better my flocks. 

 

~"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."~Albert Einstein 

 

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I have 18 chickens, one kitten, 3 dogs, 2 hermit crabs, and live on 20 acres in the country. I am CrAzY about chickens and plan on getting more! I am continually working to better my chicken practices and to better my flocks. 

 

~"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."~Albert Einstein 

 

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post #6 of 12
6/21/12 at 12:28pm
Thread Starter 
Ok and were your eggs late at all and I don't think I'm gonna try that after wot u sed, aswell did ur chicks hatch during the day or at night?
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post #7 of 12
6/21/12 at 1:30pm

i've never incubated but i've heard they can take longer when in an incubator

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post #8 of 12
6/21/12 at 1:35pm
Thread Starter 
Okay well it's evening of day 22 and I think they have moved slightly in the incubator but no popping and no chirping so I'm really hoping they hatch
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post #9 of 12
6/21/12 at 2:03pm
I'd wait don't open the incubator either some have said their eggs hatched as late as day 27 it all depends on your temp and humidity don't panic like I did and shrink wrap you chicks by opening the incubator
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post #10 of 12
6/21/12 at 10:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mcfly1988 View Post

I'd wait don't open the incubator either some have said their eggs hatched as late as day 27 it all depends on your temp and humidity don't panic like I did and shrink wrap you chicks by opening the incubator
so when you opened the incubator did yours hatch late?
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