Egg direction

[Stephanie Struble]

I have been incubating eggs for 14 days now but I put them fat side DOWN because this is what someone told me
Now I am reading that they should be fat side UP? Is this true and if it is true, is it too late to save them?

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I was told point side down

 

[Pyxis]

They do need to be fat side up, aka the air cell needs to be at the top. I would switch them now. Hopefully the chicks will have time to get into the proper hatching position. If not, you're going to be dealing with a lot of wrong-end pippers.

 

[Stephanie Struble]

But I thought you couldn't move them that much at once. What do I do? How do I move them

 

[BYCforlife]

Yes, I think it's large side up. I'm pretty sure people turn their eggs al over when candling. The hen flips her eggs over in seconds. I would just turn them all over gently but quickly.

 

[casportpony]

But I thought you couldn't move them that much at once. What do I do? How do I move them

Welcome to BYC! Very carefully place them fat end up.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I concur. You are only on day 14, just turn them fat side up gently now. The chicks should still have room to move in the eggs.

Broody hens (which I use) do all sorts of things to their eggs right up to lock down, and the eggs are side ways, not fat end up. I get good hatches.

So obviously there is some leeway. The important thing is turning regularly, which the hen does by rolling the egg, which you have to recreate in the incubator.

With an incubator, which is more static, it is important to have the fat end up due to the mechanics of the machine.

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[Granny Hatchet]

think I would lay them on their side for a few day, up for the remaining time then back on their side for hatch.