Bad air cells in silkie eggs day 16

[Funkychickmama]

Hi all. I have a batch of 6 silkie eggs at day 16. All but one have saddle bag air cells. All are alive and moving around in the egg, even the one with the most receded air cell. How can I give them the best ability to make it to hatch? Or should I just come to terms that they won’t make it?

 

[igorsMistress]

They could hatch so don't give up! I would stop turning them now and see what happens. Good luck!

 

[Funkychickmama]

They could hatch so don't give up! I would stop turning them now and see what happens. Good luck!

Put them in lockdown? I have 2 bantam Cochin eggs in with them that are about 2 days behind the silkies. I suppose I could hand turn those for the next few days. What do you think?

 

[igorsMistress]

Put them in lockdown? I have 2 bantam Cochin eggs in with them that are about 2 days behind the silkies. I suppose I could hand turn those for the next few days. What do you think?

You sure can!
I read a study once about an experiment where the eggs weren't turned after a certain number of days. Those turned up to day 18 vs day 14 made no difference in hatch rate.

 

[Funkychickmama]

You sure can!
I read a study once about an experiment where the eggs weren't turned after a certain number of days. Those turned up to day 18 vs day 14 made no difference in hatch rate.

Thank you! And raise humidity also? Or wait until actual lockdown day to raise humidity?

 

[igorsMistress]

Thank you! And raise humidity also? Or wait until actual lockdown day to raise humidity?

Sure, and good luck! Wait until lockdown to increase humidity.

 

[LeslieRowley]

Thank you! And raise humidity also? Or wait until actual lockdown day to raise humidity?

How'd you end up doing ? I'm in a similar situation on Day 12.

 

[Rakaiachick]

Interested to know as well as have same problem.

 

[Funkychickmama]

How'd you end up doing ? I'm in a similar situation on Day 12.

All 5 that went into lockdown hatched beautifully with no issues! I placed the 3 with the worst air cells pictured into lockdown 2 days early into the bottom of a cut out egg carton, pointy end down. The other 2 I just laid on the bottom of the incubator. I did decide to hand turn my 2 Cochin eggs up until I started getting pips from my silkies. One of the silkies on the floor of the incubator had a slightly damaged air cell so I took the chance with that one, no issue. All silkies hatched and the next day so did both of my cochins. I’m a proud mama!!

Not sure if you can see, but to the left in the bator is the cut back egg carton, the eggs were tipped at a slight angle that I felt like they would get the best access to be able to pip all the way around and the carton not impede progress. They were all hatched by the morning of day 21, pips starting late day 20 on the silkies.

 

[Funkychickmama]

Interested to know as well as have same problem.

See post above!