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The importance of air cells... I really need advice from anyone and everyone on how to salvage a...

post #1 of 8
Thread Starter 

My Cream Legbar eggs are eight days into incubation. They've been on an egg turner the entire time.

 

Last night I candled and realized that, of the six I started with, three appeared to be developing nicely. Then I held them up to my brighter candling contraption and realized that two of these developing eggs do not have a fixed air cell... it just seems to orient itself toward the highest point in the egg, behaving as a good little bubble should... but not like a good little air cell ought to.

 

The eggs were pretty pricey and I *really* want to get a few of these (a male/female pair, would be awesome! fl.gif). I am confidant that the bad air cells are due to shipping and handling -- not some genetic failing that some might say would be best culled -- so I am willing to go to some lengths to see them through to hatching.

 

So, I am really needing advice on how to see these babies through.. Should I take them off the turner and switch them to a slightly more upright, less frequent, hand turning schedule? I have seen some people suggesting leaving them still, in a vertical position -- not sure if this will actually heal the air cell, or if it might simply keep the chick oriented in such a way that there will at least be some vacant space there? 

 

For others who have attempted to salvage eggs in this situation, was there a specific time during incubation or hatch when the chicks seemed to be struggling and/or dying off? I ask, because I am wondering if I should plan to intervene early with these and maybe draw some excess fluid out with a syringe, find their beaks and ensure a clear airway, then gradually work them through an assisted hatch (assuming my removal of fluid would dry things out to a point that things will be too sticky for a chick to free itself).

 

All of this is just me hoping they even make it far enough for hatch to be a concern!

 

Would love input from guessers and experts alike on this. Any info -- stories of your successes and failures with this -- could be helpful. You peeps rock!

post #2 of 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by Poetical Peeps View Post

My Cream Legbar eggs are eight days into incubation. They've been on an egg turner the entire time.

 

Last night I candled and realized that, of the six I started with, three appeared to be developing nicely. Then I held them up to my brighter candling contraption and realized that two of these developing eggs do not have a fixed air cell... it just seems to orient itself toward the highest point in the egg, behaving as a good little bubble should... but not like a good little air cell ought to.

 

The eggs were pretty pricey and I *really* want to get a few of these (a male/female pair, would be awesome! fl.gif). I am confidant that the bad air cells are due to shipping and handling -- not some genetic failing that some might say would be best culled -- so I am willing to go to some lengths to see them through to hatching.

 

So, I am really needing advice on how to see these babies through.. Should I take them off the turner and switch them to a slightly more upright, less frequent, hand turning schedule? I have seen some people suggesting leaving them still, in a vertical position -- not sure if this will actually heal the air cell, or if it might simply keep the chick oriented in such a way that there will at least be some vacant space there? 

 

For others who have attempted to salvage eggs in this situation, was there a specific time during incubation or hatch when the chicks seemed to be struggling and/or dying off? I ask, because I am wondering if I should plan to intervene early with these and maybe draw some excess fluid out with a syringe, find their beaks and ensure a clear airway, then gradually work them through an assisted hatch (assuming my removal of fluid would dry things out to a point that things will be too sticky for a chick to free itself).

 

All of this is just me hoping they even make it far enough for hatch to be a concern!

 

Would love input from guessers and experts alike on this. Any info -- stories of your successes and failures with this -- could be helpful. You peeps rock!

 

 

EEK I really really wish I could help you here, I've only dealt with 1 incubator we had when I was a pre-teen, & it was an old timy one, But I don't really know all the specifics about all the details with hatching eggs.  I'll ask my brother he's going for his doctorate in Biology he might have some insight LOL....sorry hon

**3 RIR hens  **White Leghorn hen  **7 GLW(2 chicks) **9  (1 JG, 1 Silkie mix, 1 silkie, 4 mix Nankin/OE's, 1 Lorp, 1 JG/Prod red), ***4 Seramas

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**3 RIR hens  **White Leghorn hen  **7 GLW(2 chicks) **9  (1 JG, 1 Silkie mix, 1 silkie, 4 mix Nankin/OE's, 1 Lorp, 1 JG/Prod red), ***4 Seramas

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post #3 of 8

I will be honest with you, all of the eggs that I've had with loose air sacs didn't make it. Most didn't even develope so you're ahead of me there. Are the air sacs completely loose? Like can they go all the way to the pointy end, or do they just move around a bit. Like I siad, I've never had sucess when they are completely loose, but since they are already developing, I would try the vertical postion.  I read somewhere that they only really need the turning until day 8, I personally wouldn't trust it but given the situation it may be your best option. So maybe use two portions of an egg catoon and keep them vertical, candle them daily to make sure that they are still moving.  For hatching, if the air sac is developed enough and they are in that vertical postion, I can't see any reason that they would even need help. Many people actually put partial cartons in just for hatching and just because the sair sac moves, doesn't mean that it isn't developing, it developes based on humidity. So if they make it that far, they should be able in interally pip and hatch just like any other chick in my opinion. 

post #4 of 8
Thread Starter 

Thank you!

 

I'm waiting till it gets dark and will take another look... don't have my hopes too high, but I had a few eggs like this last time that I was really pulling for, too, and it's pretty buggersome. Those didn't make it, of course, but if there's any way to incubate and hatch them in a way that they have a chance, I'd love to figure it out. (Me and a million other people... heh...)

 

If anyone has had any inexplicable luck with them, it'd be great to know the conditions -- even if they seem irrelevant.

post #5 of 8

I hatched two last year with air cells that floated like a level, but they seemed to settle when the embryo got big enough...don't really remember when, prolly halfway thru. I left mine on the turner, i didn't know any better, and they both hatched ok, they're monstrous roos. If the eggs are developing, and you've got them pointy end down, sooner or later the egg will just be too crowded.

When one door closes, another opens...or you can open the closed door, that's how doors work.
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When one door closes, another opens...or you can open the closed door, that's how doors work.
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post #6 of 8

for the air cell to move, i mean. anyway, the cell is out side the sac, so even if it's not all in one spot, there's still air in there for when chickie pips thru. This last batch of shipped eggs most of the loose air cell ones didn't develop or had blood rings by 7 days. At least one made to hatch today.

When one door closes, another opens...or you can open the closed door, that's how doors work.
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When one door closes, another opens...or you can open the closed door, that's how doors work.
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post #7 of 8
Thread Starter 

Thanks. =)

 

My two turned to blood rings over the last couple of days. It looks like a few of my Wheaten Marans are in the same situation, though, so it's good to think they have some chance -- however remote it may be.

post #8 of 8

I don't think it's remote. The one that hatched had a real weird shaped cell when candled, but it went pip to zip in an hour. Nice healthy chickie. The other hasn't hatched, but it's totally dark, with a jaggety, kinda spread out small air cell. We'll see..

 

I know what you mean, i really wanted some Araucanas, these weren't cheap...the ones i got last year were ridiculous, Blue laced Red wyandottes. I ended up with two roos, one of which got eaten as soon as I let them out this spring...
 

When one door closes, another opens...or you can open the closed door, that's how doors work.
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When one door closes, another opens...or you can open the closed door, that's how doors work.
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