Float Testing, Checking Egg Viability For Late Or Overdue Hatching

[dayzeediva]

I want to thank everyone who contributed to this thread! I am new to quail and am currently incubating my first set of eggs. Today is lock down so I decided to float test, had a few sinkers, a couple of sinkers that wiggled, some high floaters, and LOTS of good ones that were wiggling!!! Coolest thing I have ever seen! So thank you for sharing all the great advice and experience here.

You guys are amazing!!!

 

[capper2013]

I want to thank everyone who contributed to this thread! I am new to quail and am currently incubating my first set of eggs. Today is lock down so I decided to float test, had a few sinkers, a couple of sinkers that wiggled, some high floaters, and LOTS of good ones that were wiggling!!! Coolest thing I have ever seen! So thank you for sharing all the great advice and experience here.

You guys are amazing!!!

I would suggest that if you get sinkers that do not move then open them up real carefully at the air bubble end. it may prove fruitless according to other sources, however I do have a live one that sank and didn't move.
after breaking open the shell I saw a little beak moving so I opened up the membrane, carefully avoiding the veins, just to allow the chick to breathe. it survived and is now a good couple of weeks old spending much of it's time sitting on my shoulder or trying to peck at my nose, ears, eyes and anything else it fancies trying to eat.
once the shell has been broken open it is in severe danger of drying out. I used wet tissue to surround the membrane (apart from the bit where the beak was) and replaced it every couple of hours. I am no expert on this method whatsoever so I can only go by the experience I had.
the method did point me to a floater that rumbled around in the water which I though was a dud, that was really cool to watch.
it may be different for quail, my eggs were hens eggs, therefore I cannot comment upon what you might find although I suspect they will be pretty much the same.
if the sinkers prove to be duds upon opening the bubble end then you have lost nothing anyway, so worth checking out, it could prove educational.
i wish you good fortune with your babies.

 

[dayzeediva]

Thanks so much!!

Since this is my first try I was very conservative and only tossed the really high floaters. I marked the sinkers and put them back in with the rest for lockdown. I figure these are shipped eggs and I will not have them all hatch so I might as well learn all I can. So far incubator has held temp and humidity like a champ! Researched that on here before I bought it too!!

 

[dc3085]

Please read the last several pages of this thread paying special attention to posts by Fat Daddy.

 

[capper2013]

Please read the last several pages of this thread paying special attention to posts by Fat Daddy.

completely agree, Fat Daddy seems to know his stuff very well.

 

[dc3085]

completely agree, Fat Daddy seems to know his stuff very well.

Bill is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced game bird keepers you'll encounter.

 

[Justem]

Hi thanks for that info. Really helpful.

I have 2 chicken and 3 ducks eggs left in my incubator. They mostly float but the air pocket is above the waterline. Is this a low or high floater. I can see the duck eggs have development but I don't know if they are just late or dead. One egg went to the bottom but was stood on end is this a low floater or a sinker? These are the only non hatchery out of the whole batch.

 

[jenniferlaustin]

I did this test this morning and it floated only the top above water. About 10-15% above water. About the same size as the air pocket would be. It's sibling hatched yesterday morning.
Can I get opinions?

 

[capper2013]

I did this test this morning and it floated only the top above water. About 10-15% above water. About the same size as the air pocket would be. It's sibling hatched yesterday morning.
Can I get opinions?

did you notice it jigging about? how long have you got to go, or are you already at hatching day?

 

[jenniferlaustin]

Yes. The others have all hatched. And I MIGHT have seen it move in the water. But it was so slight I'm not sure. The other baby duck is very attentive to it. Sleeps against it and sits on it.