Air cell dilemna.....what do I do????

[donnap1967]

I have silkie eggs in my bator on Day 16 right now. They were shipped eggs that arrived in one piece but they must have had a rough ride because some of the air cells were knocked loose.

I just did a quick candle check and two have good air cells and they look to be about the right size for this stage. I have some questions that I really need help with to save the babies....

#1. One has an air cell that is stable at the top but it looks too small for Day 16. I don't want the chick to drown. Should I reduce my humidity for the next two days??

#2. Also I have one other that is developing beautifully except for the air cell that is running down the side of the egg instead of the top. Should I maybe stop turning this one earlier and set it on it's side to hatch with the air cell side up? (The rest are in an egg carton and I planned to hatch them this way). I was wondering if the chick starts to get into position around now, maybe laying it still on it's side would help??

Please help....I have seven eggs and only 4 seem to be growing and I really want these four eggs to hatch.

Edited to add: I am using a homemade styro forced air bator, temps between 98.7-99.8 and humidity between 43% - 49% .

 

[Mom 2em All]

Is the one air cell that goes down the side also at the top at all?
The reason that I ask is: I also had eggs with smaller aircells, larger air cells, and I had some that went down the side all crazy...they hatched fine. One egg I hatched that had three quarters of the egg was aircell, and I thought it was doomed. It hatched into my smallest silkie...perfectly healthy, and I didnt expect it to even hatch.

So, good luck, and try not to worry too much.

 

[donnap1967]

Yes the one that has the air cell down the side does have a little bit at the top, not much but a little.

Thank you for the encouragement Mom2

, I am so nervous and worried I won't get any babies.

I'll try to relax. The fact that yours did okay gives me some piece of mind that they may be okay.