Discarding non-developing eggs?

[Redemption]

Why not? There's nothing wrong with them.

Because at a certain point they run the right of exploding, and contaminating every other egg in the batch with bacteria. You can still get bacteria rot from a non developed egg.

 

[JaeG]

Because at a certain point they run the right of exploding, and contaminating every other egg in the batch with bacteria.

Only if they started to develop then died. Infertile eggs are just warm eggs. I've had plenty of broodies keep infertile eggs warm with no disastrous consequences.

I've just cracked open one of my non fertile eggs currently in my incubator. It's been in for 11 days and looks like this:

It wasn't in the least bit smelly, the yolk is still holding together nicely. I certainly wouldn't eat it, but it's no danger to the eggs that are developing.

 

[Redemption]

Only if they started to develop then died. Infertile eggs are just warm eggs. I've had plenty of broodies keep infertile eggs warm with no disastrous consequences.

I've just cracked open one of my non fertile eggs currently in my incubator. It's been in for 11 days and looks like this:
View attachment 2616779
It wasn't in the least bit smelly, the yolk is still holding together nicely. I certainly wouldn't eat it, but it's no danger to the eggs that are developing.

Couple of things at play here:

1. the environment that the egg was laid in is not the same for every bird owner. My eggs are CLEAN but thats because my duck run is floored with coarse sand, and the interior of their weather enclosure is bedded with wood shavings. there is generally very little foreign matter on my eggs.

The neighbor down the road who double checks the sexing on my birds for me, has me run some of her excess eggs from non broody birds. (Runners and KC usually) we hash deals over one another's efforts to both of our mutual benefit. Her ducks lay in dirt and mud, and are generally much less clean than mine. I have about 18 of hers in an incubator right now and come day 8 the more filthy eggs will become recycled if not fertile.

2. These posts eventually become part of the google search criteria in the general society zeitgeist, and people will eventually learn from them. Someone who is new and 'lurking' but not a member or posting will not know the difference and will take what they read as biblical 101.

3. We are talking about an unknown duck egg from an unknown environment, of dubious quality and cleanliness, How do we know that egg isnt mixed in with other viable eggs? how do we know that egg wasnt brooded for a time then discarded for any number of reasons? Hard to tell from a photo imho, looks dud, but that yolk also looks dark.

4. With my Ringneck Pheasants I run them all the way through to day 24 because my candle can not penetrate the shell well enough to tell for sure and I have had some early death, as well as some dud eggs that were pretty heinous come trash day.

Just my $0.02

 

[MadamContrary]

Day 8 is when I remove clears and obviously early quitters for chickens. The only time I've had and an egg explode was the only time I missed candling day 8 on shipped eggs, I woke up to a mess on day 10. Now I smell the air outlet daily while incubating because I never want to deal with that again . Quail eggs however, I leave in because they're less likely to explode and very difficult to candle.

 

[Redemption]

Day 8 is when I remove clears and obviously early quitters for chickens. The only time I've had and an egg explode was the only time I missed candling day 8 on shipped eggs, I woke up to a mess on day 10. Now I smell the air outlet daily while incubating because I never want to deal with that again . Quail eggs however, I leave in because they're less likely to explode and very difficult to candle.

Well said! couldnt agree more.