Air cells way too big at day 14, what do I do?

[thndrdancr]

I have some African Goose eggs in the bator, everything looks pretty good on them when candling except for almost all my air cells are too big, big enuff for hatching on many of them. I have been doing incubation at about 35% and misting/cooling once a day.

Whats the best course to take, stop misting and cooling, or just do cooling? I am a bit worried, these are my second set and I am trying to do everything just right after having none hatch last time due to temps being too high (broken thermomstat I didnt realize and some other probs).

Any experts out there, or suggestions are welcome as whats best course of action to take. Three even have the air cell down the side already! On the other hand, duck eggs I put in same time air cells look normal?

 

[pete55]

Morning. The first thingI need to ask is are you sure of your incubation period, could they be further than you thought?? For example were they sat by a goose before incubating?

If you are certain of their incubation age then simply raise your humidity to almost lockdown conditions. You need to be aiming for around 65-75%. Maintain the same turning and temperature conditions.

I have mentioned this on another thread but Africans and Chinese appear to lose moisture far more readily than some other breeds.

Hope that helps you.

Pete

 

[thndrdancr]

Thanks Pete,

I have a Brower Top Hatch and they were a lil closer to the bulb than the duck eggs, usually those are the ones that hatch better. Not TOO close but closer. I switched them around and upped the humidity. I wrote down the date I put them in the bator on the eggs, so am sure of that date. Will this hurt them with that large of an air cell?

These were shipped eggs and I know they are pretty careful, so probably not been incubated at all.

Do I still need to cool and mist once a day or should I quit that as well?

 

[pete55]

Hmmm.....well as they were shipped then some of their moisture loss may be linked to the age of the eggs. Thats why careful control of storage conditions is important as even then the eggs are losing moisture, eventually even infertile eggs will develop an increasing air cell.

Yes I would continue to mist and cool daily but only for 10 minutes as I think the cooling process is good for the embryos and provides an opportunity to shed excess heat daily.

Pete

 

[shelleyd2008]

Often shipped eggs will get their air cells 'stretched'. They are not necessarily bigger, they just have more area to expand in from the start. Just try to keep the air cells from getting too much bigger and you should be okay.