Dead or Alive? Day 23

[fuzzi]

This is my third time hatching eggs.

Monday was Day 21 under my broody, Naomi. While I was away for a couple days last week my chicken sitter mistakenly gathered her eggs, but put them back within 15 minutes. It was about Day 14.

Today I picked them up, one at a time. One smelled bad, so I broke it open, and it had a dead chick.

I'm thinking the rest are dead as well. I candled them just now.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

No movement in any of them, but #5 was so dark I couldn't tell.

Thoughts?

Eggs are back under broody.

In case anyone is learned in development, the dead chick picture is here, behind a Spoiler:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fuzzis-chicken-journal.1550586/post-28677768

 

[AMURPHY227]

I don't see veins in any of them, and with you not seeing movement, I'll say these are no good.

It won't hurt to give it another day though, I always do even though I know, but.......juuuuuust in case lol

 

[Ridgerunner]

While I was away for a couple days last week my chicken sitter mistakenly gathered her eggs, but put them back within 15 minutes. It was about Day 14.

The broody hen could have been off of the eggs for over an hour without it bothering them. In an incubator you can keep them out for over 15 minutes while candling and it would not be a problem. That part of it was not the issue.

Today I picked them up, one at a time. One smelled bad, so I broke it open, and it had a dead chick.

Since it smelled, bacteria got inside and multiplied. It could have been your sitter had dirty oily hands or maybe they set them down where one got infected. Maybe it was unrelated, I don't know.

I'd sniff each egg, maybe every day for a couple of more days. If they smell like they are rotten, get rid of them. If they smell OK, put them back under the broody and give them a chance. As long as they do not smell it will not hurt anything.

 

[Susan Skylark]

I don’t like the look of them if they are term eggs, the dark one might be okay or just be too dark to tell, there shouldn’t be that much liquid or light visible in a day 21 egg. I doubt your problem was the 15 minute egg-venture.

 

[fuzzi]

When I got home the broody hen, Naomi, was off the nest, wanting to get out of the brooder. She ate and was having a good dirt bath when I went back inside the house.

I left the 2 "maybe" eggs (#4 & #5) in the nest in case she wants to go back. If she goes back on the nest I am going to go buy her a couple chicks. Tonight.

I opened the three eggs I removed. Two had very dead chicks inside, probably gone at least a week. Third was just mush, like scrambled eggs or curds, might not have developed at all.

Sitter has confessed that he was putting the eggs inside his cargo shorts pockets before bringing them in the house.

It doesn't matter at this point. I just hate it for the broody.