Eggtopsy: What happened to my egg? {Graphic Pictures}

[Kedreeva]

Here are a couple of shipped Maran eggs. Their air cells were completely mangled and these died early on. When I cracked the egg in half - I found the embryos stuck to the bottom of the air cells. Any idea what this means? These eggs were shipped to me and then I let them sit in a cool room for a couple of days before setting them. I checked them at 12, 24, 36 hours and the air cells were still bad, so I kept letting them sit. Finally at the end of Day 2, I gave up waiting on them and just set them. I didn't turn the turner on though and now I'm wondering if the embryo's got stuck like this because I didn't turn them for so long? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated? There are 36 other eggs in the incubator - they were all treated the same and all the others are doing just fine. Incubator settings 50% humidity, 100.0 degrees F.

These photos only show the embryo, but not the yolk (which I assume you poured out). Usually the embryo is attached to the yolk and the veins etc form outward. But, I don't see any veining, either, so that's weird as well. What did you see in the egg outside of the embryo being attached to the air cell?

 

[vyshtia]

Honestly, I couldn't see much. I waited and thought I saw life and was all excited, but at Day 11, it was obviously not growing/moving, and I was quite sure they had passed, so I opened them up. I cracked them in half to open them and it was a mess of a yolk that poured out. Some blood ring type stuff. Then I saw the embryo stuck to the air cell and thought that was very odd. I'm starting to wonder if the heavier yolk in a Maran egg means more strain on the chalazae, which leads to more strain on the membrane/air cell. If the chalazae broke, then there would be nothing preventing the yolk to rest up against the air cell and the embryo to stick onto it. Or...the air cell was so mangled and instead of being taught, it hung down.....dunno...was hoping other people had some theories... =)

 

[Chknmom2014]

I have a broody hen who is sitting on 4 eggs. I have realized that the embryo/yolk are attached to one side. I assume she has not been turning the eggs. Is there any chance these eggs can survive & hatch? It's hard to find the right way to phrase it to get answers on line. I'm not sure if I should remove the eggs and hope she stops being broody?

 

[WVduckchick]

I have a broody hen who is sitting on 4 eggs. I have realized that the embryo/yolk are attached to one side. I assume she has not been turning the eggs. Is there any chance these eggs can survive & hatch? It's hard to find the right way to phrase it to get answers on line. I'm not sure if I should remove the eggs and hope she stops being broody?

How did you determine that it was attached to one side?

 

[Chknmom2014]

I candled the eggs the last couple of days, the yolk and embryo stay in the same spot, no movement as you turn the egg. The yolk and embryo stay in the same spot on the side. I have marked where they are.

 

[WVduckchick]

I candled the eggs the last couple of days, the yolk and embryo stay in the same spot, no movement as you turn the egg. The yolk and embryo stay in the same spot on the side. I have marked where they are.

I'm also having a tough time phrasing what I want to say lol. They don't just float around loose inside there. They are kinda "anchored" as they start to form. They will stay in the same vicinity inside the egg, while they grow, no matter how you turn the egg. Personally, I think you are probably ok. If you marked the spots on the eggs, you should be able to determine if she is turning them or not.

 

[dmbnj]

My broody abandoned her nest today. There were two blue eggs that she was sitting on. I found one cracked open in the nest two days ago. It looked like the chick stopped developing around day 16. I figured the other one was a goner too as I didn't see any movement. These eggs have been under the broody for about 24 days. I decided to do an eggtopsy, and I opened the egg at the air sack. As the egg warmed up, the chick started moving. There was a little bit of blood, but the membrane seems intact. I put the egg under a 40watt light with damp paper towels underneath. Is there anything I can do at this point other than keep it warm and try to keep the humidity up?

 

[NikkiCole5]

My broody abandoned her nest today.  There were two blue eggs that she was sitting on.  I found one cracked open in the nest two days ago.  It looked like the chick stopped developing around day 16.  I figured the other one was a goner too as I didn't see any movement.  These eggs have been under the broody for about 24 days.  I decided to do an eggtopsy, and I opened the egg at the air sack.  As the egg warmed up, the chick started moving.  There was a little bit of blood, but the membrane seems intact.  I put the egg under a 40watt light with damp paper towels underneath.  Is there anything I can do at this point other than keep it warm and try to keep the humidity up?

40 watt isn't hot enough, the membrane is going to dry out since you opened the egg, people have had success with using some kind of plastic wrap and melting it on the egg opening, but someone experienced will have to explain it. Use a wet paper towel wrapped around the egg lightly until you get someone to respond. If I was you I'd post this on the hatch a long thread

 

[dmbnj]

I did find a 100w bulb, and moved it to an igloo cooler. I did wrap the shell in a damp paper towel covered with saran wrap, but I left the area that was the air sack uncovered. The membrane was very dry when I opened it which I didn't expect. With lots of tinkering the temp inside the cooler is now 98, and the humidity is 75%. I boiled some water and added bacitracin ointment to it, and put some of that on the membrane. I can see the chick's head and beak, so now I will just watch and wait.

 

[NikkiCole5]

I did find a 100w bulb, and moved it to an igloo cooler.  I did wrap the shell in a damp paper towel covered with saran wrap, but I left the area that was the air sack uncovered.  The membrane was very dry when I opened it which I didn't expect.  With lots of tinkering the temp inside the cooler is now 98, and the humidity is 75%.  I boiled some water and added bacitracin ointment to it, and put some of that on the membrane.  I can see the chick's head and beak, so now I will just watch and wait. 

Alright great! Is it suppose to hatch soon? Sounds like it's alive and healthy, just hoping it survives to hatch!