First Incubation - Mixed Dates

[cluckinaround207]

I think I made a big oopsie without thinking about it! This is my first incubation and I did this without even thinking about it. I think I REALLY messed up bad, but know some of my errors.

1. Hatching pullet eggs (only layers we have right now)
2. Have eggs in the incubator from three different dates (1/4, 1/8, 1/14)
3. Dark green egg shells that I cannot candle
4. Not freshly laid eggs (some are 1-3 days old)
5. No humidity or tempurature gauge inside of the incubator (just using one on the incubator)

My question for each scenario:

1. Can these eggs produce chicks that will be okay?
2. Will these need to be separated at lockdown/hatch so the others do not interfere?
3. Not really a question- just a concern as I cannot see if they are fertilized or developing (worries of them "exploding" now)
4. Will they hatch or develop sooner than the others?
5. Thinking some have been lost as a result- Looks like some are stuck to the shell. Worried about humidity issues being incorrect.

Now my biggest concern is that I have a lot that looks like they never developed past the embryo stage. They are at day 15 and no movement and still just a small black, lima bean. The rest are moving and big. There is the red ring in a lot of them. I don't know enough to risk taking them out and being wrong, but how likely is it for them to "explode" in the incubator as I am reading all over social media? I feel like I had no business incubating- but on the other hand, I had to learn at some point, but I feel so guilty not learning more first.

Of our 35 eggs, maybe 10 are convincingly developing.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi! Welcome to the forum, glad you joined.

Don't be too hard on yourself. You haven't done anything worse than a lot of other people. So just treat this as part of the learning curve.

1. Hatching pullet eggs (only layers we have right now)

I hatch pullet eggs. Sometimes I get great hatch rates, sometimes I don't. I find if I wait until the pullet has been laying about a month before I set her eggs the hatch rate isn't that much worse than from hens that have been laying quite a while.

2. Have eggs in the incubator from three different dates (1/4, 1/8, 1/14)

I assume these are the dates you started them, not the dates they were laid. It is a problem, what we call a staggered hatch. A very common problem and some people do it on purpose. I'm not going to go into detail here, it would take too long. Do a search on staggered hatch on here and start another thread on the topic. It deserves a thread of its own. Provide a link in this thread to your new thread so I can find it.

3. Dark green egg shells that I cannot candle

A lot of us incubate dark eggs we cannot candle well. I can't see much inside of my darker ones. I never candle eggs under a broody hen, it's too inconvenient. I try to candle eggs in the incubator twice. Once at 7 days out of pure curiosity and again at lockdown to eliminate any that are not going to hatch. Not because I'm worried about them exploding but just so I have fewer to follow during hatch. Some if them you really can't see much inside of them.

4. Not freshly laid eggs (some are 1-3 days old)

Hens can hide a nest and lay eggs over a two week period to get enough to hatch before they start incubation. They usually get great hatch rates. I often store eggs for a week before I incubate them. I don't see your problem.

5. No humidity or tempurature gauge inside of the incubator (just using one on the incubator)

Sometimes the gauges that come with the incubator are off, sometimes they are not. I don't know if you have a problem or not. I suggest you find a thermometer that you can trust and calibrate your thermometer. Often they are close enough that you can hatch with them, just not ideal. Worry is interest paid before it is due. Find out f you have an issue before you lose sleep over it.

1. Can these eggs produce chicks that will be okay?

Absolutely. They can.

2. Will these need to be separated at lockdown/hatch so the others do not interfere?

Address this in a separate thread about staggered hatch.

3. Not really a question- just a concern as I cannot see if they are fertilized or developing (worries of them "exploding" now)

This might be the topic most used to terrorize people. Can an egg explode? Yes, it is possible. Is it likely? No. I don't think most people knowingly try to scare people with this, they just don't know any better.

The problem is when bacteria get inside the egg. The material inside the egg is a perfect food for many bacteria to grow. Incubation temperature is a perfect temperature for many bacteria to grow. But if bacteria does not get inside, it cannot grow.

About the last thing a hen (or pullet) does as she is laying an egg is put a liquid we call 'bloom" on it. This liquid quickly dies and forms a barrier to prevent bacteria from getting inside. It is extremely effective as long as it is intact. Washing an egg can remove the bloom. So can scratching or sandpapering an egg. If the egg has a blob of mud or poop on it the bloom is likely compromised. A light dusting if dry stuff isn't a problem but a blob is. So do not clean your eggs and do not set "dirty" eggs.

Explosions are so dramatic. Really get your attention. It is possible an egg with bacteria in it can build up pressure and explode but what usually happens is that this foul liquid seeps out. It is still horrible.

Candling does nothing to identify these eggs. It doesn't matter if the egg is developing or not. If bacteria gets inside it will kill the embryo if it is developing. The way to detect an egg that is going bad is to sniff it. Nothing wrong with carefully sniffing each individual egg just to be sure. If you detect the rotten egg smell in your incubator I strongly recommend sniffing each individual egg. It should be easy to discover the culprit.

4. Will they hatch or develop sooner than the others?

Not sure what your question is here? Will which eggs develop sooner that what others?

5. Thinking some have been lost as a result- Looks like some are stuck to the shell. Worried about humidity issues being incorrect.

Have you been turning them? If you don't know what I'm talking about, let me know.

Now my biggest concern is that I have a lot that looks like they never developed past the embryo stage. They are at day 15 and no movement and still just a small black, lima bean. The rest are moving and big. There is the red ring in a lot of them. I don't know enough to risk taking them out and being wrong, but how likely is it for them to "explode" in the incubator as I am reading all over social media? I feel like I had no business incubating- but on the other hand, I had to learn at some point, but I feel so guilty not learning more first.

This link shows you what you should see for development day by day. Hopefully it will help you determine which ones are viable.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/development-of-a-chicken-embryo-day-by-day.72537/

Of our 35 eggs, maybe 10 are convincingly developing.

For your first incubation knowing nothing that sounds like a potential win. Here's hoping most of those 10 hatch and you do much better your second try.