Adventures in Incubating Shipped Eggs

[AlleysChicks]

I am so sorry to hear this. How disappointing! I don't know if you do 'eggtopsies' (I don't), but perhaps this info can help figure out what happened: https://extension.illinois.edu/eggs/res24-00.html
Is there any chance there was a temporary power outtage that you were unaware of?

Yes I do eggtopsies lol I’m not squeamish so I tend to look at everything.

I candle first then crack. On candle the eggs AC were fine(large and dipped for hatching) no veins, but lots of liquid. When I cracked them open chicks were all sizes. Some the proper size and some very small. The small ones were alive at last candle before lockdown. Yolk was absorbed on the bigger ones but the small ones still had a half pea size yolk.

 

[Morrigan]

I also found this chart, which I find to be especially helpful, as it breaks down incubation troubleshooting by when the eggs fail. It's colour coded: yellow for infertile eggs, green for early quitters (1st 3 days), red for mid to late quitters (day 4-lockdown) and blue for losses during lockdown and hatching.

It does line up with my experience with shipped eggs, showing that rough handling results in early quitters rather than late.
http://animalsciencey.ucdavis.edu/avian/pfs33.htm


-Cerise

That's a really useful chart -- I will bookmark it.

No coincidence that of the 4 Lemon orp. eggs that arrived with huge air cells, 3 never really developed. "Old eggs" would seem to be the cause. I will definitely let the breeder know when the hatch is complete.

 

[Kiki]

I also found this chart, which I find to be especially helpful, as it breaks down incubation troubleshooting by when the eggs fail. It's colour coded: yellow for infertile eggs, green for early quitters (1st 3 days), red for mid to late quitters (day 4-lockdown) and blue for losses during lockdown and hatching.

It does line up with my experience with shipped eggs, showing that rough handling results in early quitters rather than late.
http://animalsciencey.ucdavis.edu/avian/pfs33.htm


-Cerise

I really like this link!
Thanks for sharing it!

 

[Colly1470]

Internal pip in egg 6!!!!

 

[Morrigan]

Internal pip in egg 6!!!!

Now the waiting game begins.

 

[Colly1470]

Now the waiting game begins.

I know it'll be resting for a bit, so I'm going to stay away from the incubator for a while, before I end up hanging out in the room watching netflix until it hatches lol.

 

[Cerise1924]

I really like this link!
Thanks for sharing it!

Thanks for letting me know you like it!

 

[Cerise1924]

Internal pip in egg 6!!!!

Yay!!

 

[Cerise1924]

That's a really useful chart -- I will bookmark it.

No coincidence that of the 4 Lemon orp. eggs that arrived with huge air cells, 3 never really developed. "Old eggs" would seem to be the cause. I will definitely let the breeder know when the hatch is complete.

As we've talked about, I think I also got old eggs, same breed, around the same time, from the same breeder. Glad you find the chart useful!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I have a good feeling about your hatch.

When I had low hatch rates from shipped eggs, the eggs always quit fairly early, or never developed at all. On all my shipped eggs, I've had about a 90-100% hatch rate from eggs that make it to Day 14. Then again, I do assist stuck chicks, if needed.

The only 'defect' from my assisted birds is in a beloved Marans hen, Callisto, whose beak curves slightly to one side. It doesn't impede or bother her in the least.

This is where I part ways with advice from Texas A&M and other who say 'never assist a chick, because it will have problems and isn't worth saving.' I understand that those who are breeding for perfection may not want to save an imperfect chick, but I love this hen! She is a 'project' Marans from Papa's Poultry. The egg was labeled "LAV," but I'm told she is something else. Mottled/Spangled?
View attachment 1404213

She is a splash Marans, we have a 3 week baby like her and are praying she remains a she. So cute.