Candling Maran Eggs

[Wezdin]

Hi, All, So I lost chickens to a fox today, including my favorite Maran. She laid an egg a few hours before she died so I thought i would try to hatch it. I have incubated before and know what I'm doing i was just wondering if it is possible at all to candle dark eggs and if not what can i do to check development.
TIA,
Weston.

 

[TwoChicksChix]

For Marans eggs, I’ve found you can’t really check development until the final days. Around day 17 to 18 I will place the egg in a warm glass of water, trying to have it as similar to incubator temperature or a little hotter. If I see movement, like if the egg wiggles and such, then the baby is alive and well. But no movement doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t alive.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Sorry for your loss.

I would leave it alone. Water checking has some potential risks, and not much else you can do will get anywhere. Fresh egg, placed quickly in the incubator- the chance of it hatching is high, it's unlikely anything will go wrong. The only thing I'd do is periodically smell it, just in case it dies and rots, but probably it'll go fine.

 

[BYC910]

Hi, All, So I lost chickens to a fox today, including my favorite Maran. She laid an egg a few hours before she died so I thought i would try to hatch it. I have incubated before and know what I'm doing i was just wondering if it is possible at all to candle dark eggs and if not what can i do to check development.
TIA,
Weston.

I'm am sorry for your loss . But yes a good strong light and you can monitor development . Thing is you won't see vein's. A picture at first candle as a reference will help . Good light dark room always helps. You just have to go by slight color changes . So candle and picture at set . Candle and picture at day seven and fourteen. No point g for day four you just can't see the veins. Candle from both air cell and bottom . Embryo movement is easier seen in Marans eggs from bottom candles . Lock down on day sixteen . Marans are bad about being mal positioned. If you live in a very humid area. Run Humidity a little on the dry side Good luck

 

[Wezdin]

Thank you all for the replies! I will have to let you know how it turns out.