Float Testing, Checking Egg Viability For Late Or Overdue Hatching

[BoiseChik]

Hello, I have a question and I hope one of you can answer me. I have a nest of fertile eggs that are on day 23 or 24. All the eggs have hatched except one that is peeping audibly but has not pipped. In other words the shell is completely unbroken. This egg has been peeping for about two days. I'm worried that the chick can't get out. Should I consider trying to help it? But I'm worried that anything I might try could hurt the chick.

 

[momofseven]

Chicken eggs?
I had one peep until day 22 and then it stopped
I'm always worried that there's a reason why they don't hatch and whether I want to deal with that.

 

[BoiseChik]

Yes chicken eggs.

 

[Tanira2]

I have some eggs which I float tested yesterday, they all floated to the "full term" level (non too high) but I'm wondering how long I leave them as they are now overdue. They are however, under a hen and I appreciate that's not the optimum temperature and with the cooler UK temperatures recently, it may have slowed development down.

They are italian quail eggs and are now about 19 days. How long do I leave them before I think they are dead and at what day would you expect them to move?

 

[Rhodi144]

Is there anyway an egg can sink during the float test and still kick around because I have an egg that sunk but looked as though is kicked. It's a heavy egg and was viable last week. Any thoughts. The sister egg hatched but at the wrong end and had to assist. There was temperature flux in the incubator at the starting of the eggs.

 

[momofseven]

The ones that sunk for me, never hatched.

 

[DodieSable]

I would like to make one small comment on this thread. I read this thread and tested my remaining eggs. One immediately sank to the bottom (dud?) and the other two floated with about 10% of the egg above the surface. I put the two floaters back in the incubator and scooped the sinker out to throw it away. On my way to the trash can, it was peeping. I held it up to my ear and YES, it is peeping. I put it back into the incubator. My assumption is that it sank because the peep inside is almost out of air so I am carefully watching for an air pip to appear in the shell.

 

[Rhodi144]

So my sinker ended up being a fully developed dead baby chick. It appeared to have issues with the umbilical cord, it was stretched across the back of the chicks head and was so tight that it left an indentation, so I am wondering if that could have prevented the chick from piping.

 

[Mirye]

I have a mallard's nest by my front door and I only noticed it when the hen was already setting the eggs. I haven't see the hen for almost two days now. So, I candled the eggs and can clearly see the embryos. Based on an egg development chart, they are at day 10. Now I did the floating test and they all sank. Does it mean the embryos died? Or is there hope?

Thanks,

Mirye

 

[remington550]

Many Folks Are Having Eggs Go Overdue For Hatch And Wondering If They Are Duds, Late, Or Have Had Some Sort Of Fetal Demise.... The Float Test Is Simple Yet Effect Way Of Checking Egg Viability.


I Normally Give Eggs A Full 24 Hrs Overdue Before Float Testing. It Works On All Bird Eggs- Period! Takes Very Little Equipment Or Time To Do And Is Easy To Perform.



Start With A Bowl Of Sufficient Depth To Allow The Eggs Your Testing To Float Freely Or Sink. Add 100 Degree Water To The Needed Level And Allow It To Settle( Quit Swirling And Calm Down)


Once Settled Take The Egg Or Eggs To Be Tested And Gently Lower Them Into The Water With As Little Disturbance As Possible. You May Need To Wait A Few Minutes For The Water To Settle Again After Adding Egg/ Eggs. Then Just Watch....


Eggs Are Judged By Observation With Results As Follows:


1. Sinker= Dud, Never Developed


2. High Floater (like A Fishing Bobber Without Weights) Say 45% Or More Of The Egg Above The Water Line= Dud, No Development Or Fetal Demise, Likely Rupture Of Internal Membranes Causing The Egg To Dehydrate.


3. Low Floater= Viable Egg, Development Full Term


4. Low Floater Rockin And Rollin! This Is The Live Embryo Moving Inside The Egg= Definate Viable Egg!


Once Test Results Complete Take Viable Eggs And Gently Pat Dry And Replace In Hatcher. Duds Are Best Discarded At This Time.



It Should Be Noted All Eggs Warrant Close Inspection Prior To Float Testing--- Any Pips In The Shell? Do Not Float Test! If The Shell Is Broken, Pipped Or Cracked In Any Way Water May Enter And Drown The Chick Inside


This Test Works Off Of Air Cell Development With Embryo Growth. Infertile Eggs Will Have An Underdeveloped Or Absent Air Cell That Isnt Large Enough To Float The Egg....thus The Sinkers.  Ruptured Membranes Will Allow The Egg To Dehydrate.... Thus The High Floater. Proper Development Of The Embryo Will Cause The Air Cell To Develope To The Point Where Viable Eggs Will Float With Approximately 10-15% Of The Egg Above The Water Line--- These Are The Viable Eggs. Obvious Movement Of The Egg Shows Signs Of Life For The Chick Within. Works On All Bird Eggs From Hummingbirds To Ostriches /img/smilies/smile.png

I did this just today... all floating normally except one. It went straight to the bottom.... thought.. ok. According to what everyone has said on here.. its a dud.. it is far from a dud!! Opened just to see progress and live, growing guinea chick. That is now dead because of trusting what was said here. Smh!!!