Detached air cell eggs under a broody?

[jossanne]

I got 9 silkie eggs in the mail today, and when I candled them 5 have loosely floating air cells. They were packaged very well, and all arrived whole and in good condition on the outside. I've been reading on here, and the most common advice for hatching these eggs is to incubate them pointy end down instead of on their sides. These eggs are going under a broody hen, and so they won't be able to be standing on end.

I've got the eggs in a carton tonight, and plan to set them under my broody tomorrow. I don't know if that little bit of time standing pointy end down will make any difference, but I've got my fingers crossed.

Anyone had success hatching detached air cell eggs under a broody? Any advice?

Thanks!

 

[jossanne]

Anyone?

 

[dancingbear]

Extremely unlikely to hatch under a broody. The odds are not that good even in a carton with small end down, but that free floating bubble won't be in the right place, if the chicks develop all the way to hatch. Some have had successful hatches with air cells on the side, but lots more have not.

I'm sorry I don't have more encouraging info than that. If you don't have a 'bator, you may as well put them under her, you could get lucky. It happens. At least you have some with intact air cells, too. If you candle them all at 10 days, you'll be able to see clearly which ones are growing, and which ones are not.

I hope you get some babies out of this! Good luck.

 

[jossanne]

Thanks dancingbear. I'll be keeping all fingers and toes crossed until July 31.