DID MY EGGS GET TOO HOT?

[aspenarms]

How do I tell if my eggs got too hot? I've read that on Day 7 they can be accurately candled. If they are clear they are infertile. If they have veins, they are good to keep. How do I tell if they got too hot and they're dead? can this be determined by candling?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Well, maybe baked.... I will wait and see.
Thanks - I was afraid of that.

In the first week if they quite you'll see a blood ring or lack of veining, sometimes with just a free floating black spot in there. As long as you seen veining/movement there's hope. Most of the time, you can tell when you have an early quitter and you candle. Now when they get bigger, it gets harder to tell and my theory is if it doesn't stink it stays in...lol

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I am having a lot of trouble candling. I'm just putting an egg on top of a toilet paper roll and using a flashlight, but am not seeing much. I just broke open an egg, cause I was sure they were cooked, but it was developing! so I probably lost a viable one. I am now reassured that I haven't cooked them and at least some of them must be growing chicks. Obviously my candling is not good.

Are you candling down into the egg from the air cell end (fat rounded end)? If you candle from the bottom or side you aren't going to get a good picture. I use my hand instead of a toilet paper roll, it allows the light to be closer to the egg. Here's a pic of one of my candles:

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I've got the temp stabilised. It's Day 10. Today I dropped an egg while turning it and it dented one it fell on. I feel so bad!! Should I leave it? Will the inside membrane be tough enough to protect the chick? Should I wait and see if it starts to smell? I'm such a klutz!

Yes, as suggested as long as teh membrane is still intact, you can tape over it. I've seen some people use wax, though I'd be more inclined to try tape.

 

[aspenarms]

My eggs have hatched - out of 36 I have 21 chicks, and I am thrilled! 6 weren't fertile and the rest didn't make it, probably due to my trouble with stabilizing the temperature.
I gave up on candling - it was too stressful and I never felt confident with what I was seeing. Now they are in the brooder and doing well mostly. 2 have a funny foot, which I have taped, and put those chicks in a separate box. They seem to be getting stronger and doing better every day.
Thank you everyone for your encouragement and advice!!
I have 7 Barred Rock and 14 Production Reds. Obviously I don't know yet how many females/males. I am hoping for about 10 hens.

 

[cmom]

I think that was day 10 but it was a couple of years or more ago since I took that video of the embryo in the egg. Now I usually only candle on day 18 or 19 when I take the eggs out of the incubator and put them in the hatchers unless I want to check a few eggs to see how they are developing.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thank you. No idea how we are doing. Tempted to try candling today which is day 6 with barred rock eggs but since we are new to this, maybe we should wait. I don't think we will really know what we are looking at

This is an excellent thread to compare and understand what you are seeing a little better. This has been my go to guide since my second hatch! https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-candling-pics-progression-though-incubation

 

[cavemanrich]

If you candle them and no light comes thru, Then they GOT TOO HOT. and are hard boiled.

Now that was only to make you chuckle.. No offense..

I would wait a few days and see if there is progress from what you see today. Candle again. Then you can determine what is happening..

WISHING YOU BEST.

edit..... Also

 

[aspenarms]

Well, maybe baked.... I will wait and see.
Thanks - I was afraid of that.

 

[aspenarms]

I am having a lot of trouble candling. I'm just putting an egg on top of a toilet paper roll and using a flashlight, but am not seeing much. I just broke open an egg, cause I was sure they were cooked, but it was developing! so I probably lost a viable one. I am now reassured that I haven't cooked them and at least some of them must be growing chicks. Obviously my candling is not good.