cracking open unhatched eggs...

[igotchickens]

How do I know they're really dead? I float tested the coturnix eggs that didn't hatch after 18 days and opened 4 of them. 2 had developed about halfway. A lot of liquid poured out when I opened it. Does that mean it was drowned?

Then the last 2 I opened seemed to have developed fully. Would I know if I cracked open a chick that wasn't dead? The weren't moving at all when I opened them. I left 12 in the bator that may have hope, because I know it could take up to 21 days. I'm really scared to open them because I would feel terrible if opening them meant killing them. I guess my other question is: if I end up opening one that was still going to hatch, would I know it? Are there signs? Or does opening it instantly kill them? Thanks. They aren't rocking and it's day 20.

 

[georgialee]

Opening them if they haven't pipped will most likely kill them. I would leave them in for about 5 extra days. I never open mine - I just toss them.

 

[pete55]

Hi

Try to candle them at the blunt end and see if there are shadows (the chick) in the air space. Although the eggs are blotched its still possible with Quail eggs. See my thread about Assisting a Macaw for an image of the air cell near hatching. However your eggs are a little late but hang in there

Good luck from the UK

 

[secuono]

Opening at day 18 is too early. Day 18 is lock down, not hatch day....
Waiting at least to day 23-25 is what most do.
Why are you opening up day 18 eggs?

 

[pete55]

Oh and the 2 that died midway with liquid pouring out did not drown. The albumen tends to liquify once the embryo dies, a natural process of decay.

 

[horseyjess]

Quote:
Worth re asking???

 

[pete55]

If I remember correctly my Coturnix Quail hatched at Day 18

I take it these are Quail and I've not mis-interpreted with being on the other side of the Atlantic

 

[georgialee]

B/c they're quail eggs and they don't incubate as long.


I forgot to say that if you candle and can see that the chick internally pipped and its been 2 days or so you can crack the egg and help the chick out. I've done that once. I did it one more time though and the chick died (it was 4 days late). HTH

 

[pete55]

Thank you for clarification of Quail eggs - nothing lost in translation then

 

[igotchickens]

Hi I'm sorry for not clarifying, yes they are quail eggs. My temp was a bit high, 3 hatched on day 15, the rest on day 16. I know that opening them will kill them if they are alive. My question was if there was a way to tell if they were dead before or after I opened them.
I tried candling, they are too dark. and I counted wrong. Monday was day 15 so I opened them on day 19.