Floating Eggs

[Keisha]

Was talking to the ag teacher and he mentioned something about if you candle a egg and see a chick in it and its overdue to hatch, to see whether its live or not you can put it in a bucket of cold water, and if it kicks, put it back in the bator, and if it doesnt toss it. Anyone know anythign about this?

 

[jkcove08]

I actually have only done this with goose eggs. I used a warm bowl of water. After you slowly lower the egg into the water wait for it to stop rocking. Then watch it for a minute or so. If the chick is alive and awake it will rock back and forth a little from the baby moving in the egg. The reason I say if it is awake is that when I floated 8 goose eggs I only had 5 rock for me. The other 3 didnt move at all. I placed them back into the bator and a couple days later 6 of the 8 hatched. I suppose the cold water is meant to get a reaction but I would be worried about to cold of water and cooling the egg. Jenn

 

[MandyH]

If you candle a viable egg you will see the chick moving around. I wouldn't suggest submerging and egg in water because they are pourous and I would imagine it could drown the chick. I'm sure someone with more knowledge in this area will chime in though.

 

[Eggseronious]

If I candled on day 18 and all looked ok when I CLOSED the incubator it would STAY CLOSED, until the chicks or unhatched eggs were ready to come out.