Air cell - probably stupid question...

[Nath.S]

hi,

I put some of our own eggs in the incubator but I’m not sure they are fertile.

Does the air cell grow in eggs that aren’t fertile? Because the air cells do grow.

Oh t’es, i have to say I’m not patient at all, were at the beginning of day 4

Thanks for your help!

 

[MelissaRose]

If you candle them on day six or seven you will be able to see a small dark shape and it will move freely when you move the egg. I don't now If the air cell will grow in eggs that aren't fertile

 

[007Sean]

Howdy Nath.S
No, the air cell doesn't grow or develop if the egg is not fertilized.

 

[Ahavati]

We set 16 turkey eggs a couple weeks ago. I candle every 5 days and mark the air cell to make sure my temp/humidity are doing ok. We had 1 that wasn't fertile and the cell didn't grow. I also could tell because all the rest got veins and movement and this one was clear at day 10.

 

[Mimiruu]

Today you should at least see some black dots and veins letting you know that there is development.

 

[Pyxis]

The air cell does get bigger as an egg ages, whether it's fertile or not - that's why you can float eggs to determine the age of them and whether they're okay to eat if you find a hidden nest - old ones have large air cells and float to the top.

You'll be able to tell whether they're fertile and developing by candling, as was said above. At day four you might be able to start seeing some development.

Or you can sacrifice a couple fresh ones and crack them open and look for a blastoderm on the yolk, which will look like a white bulls-eye.

 

[Nath.S]

The air cell does get bigger as an egg ages, whether it's fertile or not - that's why you can float eggs to determine the age of them and whether they're okay to eat if you find a hidden nest - old ones have large air cells and float to the top.

You'll be able to tell whether they're fertile and developing by candling, as was said above. At day four you might be able to start seeing some development.

Or you can sacrifice a couple fresh ones and crack them open and look for a blastoderm on the yolk, which will look like a white bulls-eye.

Thank you for the clear answer!
I have one that clearly has life in it, the veins are clearly visible.
So I took the others out and cracked them. The picture shows the cracked ones.
I noticed yesterday that we have a broody hen, i will let her 2 more days and then put my developing egg under her.