Dark mass at top of egg (larger end)

[navywife22]

I am really new at this. I set 26 eggs on Thursday and today out of curiosity I went in and candled a few. Not sure exactly what to look for, what air cells look like, air pockets or what all that is. But, I saw a dark mass at the large end of the eggs. Is this normal?

Thanks,
Kari

I have been searching in hopes of seeing pictures of the different stages so I know what I am seeing, but can't seem to find any.

 

[giasmom]

Quote:
Click On this !!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=119420

 

[dreamcatcher]

I also had this question. I have looked at alot of pics and video and have not seen any with the "blob" in the egg as some of mine have. Sorry I can't help, but sending you good hatching vibes.

 

[thedoors5to1]

sure your blob isnt a big meat spot? check this site out and look at the segment on meat spots, they've got alot of pictures and some big meat spots, like this one from thier site:

you should candle eggs before putting in the incubator, and avoid incubating eggs with meat spots
check that same site out for the stages of egg development, its a good site:

http://www.minkhollow.ca/HatchingProgram/Candling/Fresh/Meat-Spots.html

 

[Germaine_11.20]

It is hard to know if there is a chick in the egg in the early days.

By day 7 you can usually see a small movement if you look hard when you candle.

By day 10 you can almost always see the chick if there is one unless it is a very dark egg. I have some that like to hide in the middle of "the blob"

I look for the small black dot. That is it's eye and the easiest for me to notice early on. Focus on the whole egg to and look for any jerky movements.

After day 7, I candle every day until I see a chick. I mark a "yes" on the egg and leave it alone until 14 days. If I am not sure I just put it in a special area of the incubator and continue to check each day. I don't want it to explode on my good eggs-that's why I check so often.

I do have 3 incubators so I put the yes's in one and the maybe's in the other and save the 3rd for hatching them out.

By day 14 I make a decision whether it is good or not. Plus when the egg becomes a solid mass at one end (the larger end) it is most likely a "yes"

Sometimes I think an egg is not good in the early days. Things just don't look right. But alot of the times I am wrong. Around day 7-10 I am grateful I didn't toss them when I see that chick moving!

 

[navywife22]

I have looked at these pictures. They do not show what I am talking about.

Right after I posted this, I found my answer. It's a dark, shadowy blob in the larger end of the egg. From that post it seems that this is normal.

Thanks,
Kari
Quote:
Click On this !!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=119420

 

[navywife22]

Nope, that's not what they look like.

Thanks for the information though.

Quote:

 

[navywife22]

Thanks for the information Rustyswoman. It is very helpful. It's only day 3 but wanted to check them and see if I saw anything at all.

Kari

 

[navywife22]

Thanks dreamcatcher! Sending you good hatching vibes too!

Quote:

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I do too Kari. It is fun! By day three or four look for red veining. It will usually appear at the large end just on the edge of the air cell.

I am finding that if there is a few veins...there is a chick.

I only candle about 4 at a time so they are not out of the incubator long

Then I grab a few more as I put the other ones in.