Float Testing, Checking Egg Viability For Late Or Overdue Hatching

[PattieTheDuck]

Quote:

ITS VERY HELPFUL WITH DARK OR HARD TO CANDLE EGGS SUCH AS BUTTON QUAIL, COTURNIX, AND ESPECIALLY MOST PHEASANT EGGS

I tested this way yesterday on my button quail eggs, and was able to toss out the empty egg while keeping the eggs that probably developed. However, I am afraid there may have been cracks in the eggs due to the fact that they were shipped. Since the eggs were so hard to candle, I did not see cracks, but the surfaces of them are uneven and I keep thinking there may be a crack.

 

[Nabiki]

I tested this way yesterday on my button quail eggs, and was able to toss out the empty egg while keeping the eggs that probably developed. However, I am afraid there may have been cracks in the eggs due to the fact that they were shipped. Since the eggs were so hard to candle, I did not see cracks, but the surfaces of them are uneven and I keep thinking there may be a crack.

I've said this at least three times in this thread, but float testing is a good way to kill a chick. It will tell when a chick is already dead, but is also likely to kill one that is alive. Egg shells are porous and the extra water isn't good for the chick, and unless you are extremely careful with the water temperature, the temperature change is also quite the shock to their systems.

 

[PattieTheDuck]

I've said this at least three times in this thread, but float testing is a good way to kill a chick. It will tell when a chick is already dead, but is also likely to kill one that is alive. Egg shells are porous and the extra water isn't good for the chick, and unless you are extremely careful with the water temperature, the temperature change is also quite the shock to their systems.

I did so because all the eggs were extremely dark and I could not see anything in them at all, even though it was barely day 12. I did make sure to use warm water though

 

[Nabiki]

I did so because all the eggs were extremely dark and I could not see anything in them at all, even though it was barely day 12. I did make sure to use warm water though

It's better not to candle at all than to do a float test. This is also a 15 year old thread.

 

[AshTrayAnn]

So im part way through day 21, I have 2 left out of 9 and egg#8 just started moving last night but no external pip as of this morning and I don't see it moving at the moment egg #7 was slightly moving when I last candled right before lockdown but egg has not moved at all do I wait longer to check them?

 

[Nabiki]

So im part way through day 21, I have 2 left out of 9 and egg#8 just started moving last night but no external pip as of this morning and I don't see it moving at the moment egg #7 was slightly moving when I last candled right before lockdown but egg has not moved at all do I wait longer to check them?

I would suggest doing a regular candle, not a float test. Float testing is a good way to kill a chick, either through temperature difference or by drowning because the shell of the egg is permeable.

If you don't see any movement in the eggs when you candle, odds are good that they're not going to hatch at this point.

Day 21 is quite late if these are coturnix. I suspect that the temperature in your incubator was low.

 

[AshTrayAnn]

I would suggest doing a regular candle, not a float test. Float testing is a good way to kill a chick, either through temperature difference or by drowning because the shell of the egg is permeable.

If you don't see any movement in the eggs when you candle, odds are good that they're not going to hatch at this point.

Day 21 is quite late if these are coturnix. I suspect that the temperature in your incubator was low.

They are chicken eggs, my temp has been 99.5 in a forced air incubator and humidity was around 50-55 the entire time until lockdown then humidity was put up to 74-75 and temp was lowered to 98 for less than 24hrs as I had read info saying to set it at 98 but then everything else said stay at 99.5. Should I candle if no progress by the end of day 21 or wait?

 

[nuthatched]

They are chicken eggs, my temp has been 99.5 in a forced air incubator and humidity was around 50-55 the entire time until lockdown then humidity was put up to 74-75 and temp was lowered to 98 for less than 24hrs as I had read info saying to set it at 98 but then everything else said stay at 99.5

They aren't that sensitive to temperature, a 5 degree margin of swing is fine

 

[Nabiki]

They are chicken eggs, my temp has been 99.5 in a forced air incubator and humidity was around 50-55 the entire time until lockdown then humidity was put up to 74-75 and temp was lowered to 98 for less than 24hrs as I had read info saying to set it at 98 but then everything else said stay at 99.5. Should I candle if no progress by the end of day 21 or wait?

Ah. This thread is in the quail forums, so it was assumed that you were talking about quail eggs.

I would still do a standard candle to check their development, but give them a few more days before worrying.

 

[AshTrayAnn]

Ah. This thread is in the quail forums, so it was assumed that you were talking about quail eggs.

I would still do a standard candle to check their development, but give them a few more days before worrying.

Sry I just joined haven't figured out how to work this forum yet so do I candle today?