Attempt at hatching without a shell!

[MGG]

@MGG did this by opening the shell and was quite sterile... bacteria was a big problem. They made it to day 18, correct me if I’m wrong MGG.

I was only trying to get you help with someone who has past experience with this

They made it to day 19.
@DancingDucks it is heartbreaking when they get that close, and don't make it. Especially when you've seen that perfect little beating heart everyday. And then, right at the end, bacteria ruins it all. I had the same perspective as you, "just a fun experiment, no harm in trying, maybe it will work, etc." but after seeing my 4 little babies die, no, never again. God designed an amazing shell for them, specially designed to supply calcium, oxygen, protection against bacteria, protection against physical damage, and much more.
Before opening the eggs, I wiped them with rubbing alcohol, then I coated the membrane with triple antibiotic ointment, covered them with saran wrap, made special little tp tube holders for them, so I could turn them multiple times a day, and hoped for the best. One died on day 12 or so, from a weird goopy bacteria on the membrane. The other 3 made it to day 19, and despite my best efforts to help them live, all 3 died. This can only be done in a super sterile lab. It can't work for backyard breeders such as us. I really wanted it to, but it's just not possible. I tried to stay as sterile as humanly possible, and it still wasn't enough. You can read my thread, which I'll link in the morning. JaeG found some very interesting info. It's a long thread, but you'll see why it just can't work. I would suggest, spare yourself the heartache and quit now, before it starts to develop. It's a hard choice to make, and it's your decision, but I just wouldn't do it.

 

[britesidefarm]

I sterilized the cup before, but I know not even that will keep the bacteria away. I’m just curious to see what happens. Worth a try right?

 

[MGG]

I sterilized the cup before, but I know not even that will keep the bacteria away. I’m just curious to see what happens. Worth a try right?

Good luck.
What kind of incubator?

 

[britesidefarm]

Good luck.
What kind of incubator?

It’s a Magicfly, not sure exactly the type

 

[MGG]

It’s a Magicfly, not sure exactly the type

This experiment won't work well in a Magicfly @Trisseh tried it in her magicfly. She said the fan was too forceful and dried the egg right out. Are you incubating other eggs with it? The humidity needs to be around 70% the whole time.

 

[Trisseh]

Thanks for the tag @MGG!
yep, my magicfly dried my poor egg right out, not the outcome I was hoping for. A still air incubator is much better suited to this kind of experiment, or at the very least a forced air with an excessive baffle to keep the air movement down over the surface of the egg. Mine even had a cover on it but it was too small a space with too much air circulation - and you can’t block all air flow or it will suffocate.
If I were to try again, I would use a still air or somehow stop the fan, place sterile water on top of the egg once it was in the cup, and close down excessive air flow for the first week at least.
I also would keep the humidity even higher throughout incubation. Your embryo won’t be as contained and can technically grow a bit bigger than it could within the confines of an egg without the issues that come along with that. Probably 80-90% RH for that first week, before the embryo has a chance to really start filling out.

It’s also important to be ridiculously sterile as much as possible, so gloves while handling, sterile instruments, and sterile supplies prior to starting. Even then, the actual success rates from the studies published are not encouraging. Near to see though as they grow!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[SueT]

I don't know if this video is truly one egg's development, but it looks like the chick made it from day one to hatching

 

[MGG]

Thanks for the tag @MGG!
yep, my magicfly dried my poor egg right out, not the outcome I was hoping for. A still air incubator is much better suited to this kind of experiment, or at the very least a forced air with an excessive baffle to keep the air movement down over the surface of the egg. Mine even had a cover on it but it was too small a space with too much air circulation - and you can’t block all air flow or it will suffocate.
If I were to try again, I would use a still air or somehow stop the fan, place sterile water on top of the egg once it was in the cup, and close down excessive air flow for the first week at least.
I also would keep the humidity even higher throughout incubation. Your embryo won’t be as contained and can technically grow a bit bigger than it could within the confines of an egg without the issues that come along with that. Probably 80-90% RH for that first week, before the embryo has a chance to really start filling out.

It’s also important to be ridiculously sterile as much as possible, so gloves while handling, sterile instruments, and sterile supplies prior to starting. Even then, the actual success rates from the studies published are not encouraging. Near to see though as they grow!

 

[MGG]

I don't know if this video is truly one egg's development, but it looks like the chick made it from day one to hatching

I've seen that. I don't think it's the same egg, but it does seem like at least one chick did make it.