Float test question

[ltrentin]

So we just watched a video of someone doing the float test to see if an egg was viable or not. All of the eggs they tested floated horizontally - the viable ones and not viable. The not viable was just too high. When we floated our eggs, they floated vertically. They all had variations of how much, but does this mean they are all bad? Just thrown by them floating that way. We are on Day 23 / 24

 

[Kiki]

Oh my.
You put incubated eggs in water?

 

[MGG]

So we just watched a video of someone doing the float test to see if an egg was viable or not. All of the eggs they tested floated horizontally - the viable ones and not viable. The not viable was just too high. When we floated our eggs, they floated vertically. They all had variations of how much, but does this mean they are all bad? Just thrown by them floating that way. We are on Day 23 / 24

Float testing is a pretty good way to kill any viable eggs, it drowns them and it's super inaccurate. I once threw out a bunch of eggs because I trusted the float test, but the babies were still viable. It killed them. The float test is only for eggs for consumption. Candle your eggs and post pics

 

[MGG]

Oh my.
You put incubated eggs in water?

X2!

 

[em_dawson]

X2!

X3

 

[knowvagale]

So water candling? I've heard of it but never tried. I thought it was just used to detect movement? I know a lot of people think it's too risky/harmful, but I don't know much about it. Found this thread on it though https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/water-candling.966706/

 

[ltrentin]

Yes, we did it because it was over 23 days old and there were multiple or at least another thread on this site that recommended it as a never fail test. we looked at all the eggs prior to look for any cracks, etc. and did not do any that seemed to have any blemish. Some of the shells are too dark to candle and that is also why we went with this method. No need to scold, we feel awful that NONE of them are hatching. We have tried to do our research along the way, using various threads from this site. We can try to candle again later.

 

[MGG]

Yes, we did it because it was over 23 days old and there were multiple or at least another thread on this site that recommended it as a never fail test. we looked at all the eggs prior to look for any cracks, etc. and did not do any that seemed to have any blemish. Some of the shells are too dark to candle and that is also why we went with this method. No need to scold, we feel awful that NONE of them are hatching. We have tried to do our research along the way, using various threads from this site. We can try to candle again later.

I'm not scolding, just telling you that it does fail, I've never seen it actually give any good results. Did you have a calibrated thermometer and hydrometer in the incubator? Sorry you're having poor luck.

 

[ltrentin]

Yes, we did. However the manufacturer recommendation for humidity seemed high compared to what we were seeing on this site. They were shipped eggs as well.

 

[MGG]

Yes, we did. However the manufacturer recommendation for humidity seemed high compared to what we were seeing on this site. They were shipped eggs as well.

If they were shipped they were probably roughly handled or left in a hot/cold truck or building. It was probably the shipping that messed them up. We're they packaged well and in good shape when they arrived?