50 Eggs in 2 nests, incubate?

[kelly52862]

I found 2 nests in my loft of 25 eggs each, with chickens currently laying on both. I took 42 of the best looking eggs and put them in the incubator. There is no way to know how many hens were laying in each nest, but it seems like at least 20 eggs should hatch. Am I crazy? Will rotten eggs explode in my incubator? When should I candle?

 

[mmaddie's mom]

I would have candled before putting them in the 'bator... but since you didn't, I'd candle after about 7 days.

You may have a problem with a very staggered hatch?

 

[pdsavage]

Yeah candle them all see how far along they are also make sure none stink or you will have a big proublem on your hands.
But yeah I would have taken them all and incubated them as well.

 

[kelly52862]

Thanks! I will candle them next week.

 

[cmom]

I would candle the eggs ASAP and see how far along they are.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=261876

 

[kelly52862]

I will candle them Sunday at 5 days! This is only my second time to incubate and I found it hard to candle! Hopefully it will go better this time.

 

[FeatheredObsessions]

It might be hard to tell at 5 days. I found a nest from my ducks and threw the eggs in the incubator... some hatched but I did have one egg explode. I was so gladd it was a small duck egg and not a Muscovy

 

[kelly52862]

After the 2nd time candling, there are 18 good eggs out of the 42 in the incubator. Only one egg started to weep. One week until the hatch!