Giant Air Cells (Day 4)

[AltonaAcres]

Today was the candling day for my 11 orpington eggs on day 4 in my incubator. They were shipped from AL. Anyways, the 1st day they came (before they settled overnight) I candled and there were no air cells. But now 4-5 days later, the air cells are so big they take up 1/3 to 3/4 of the egg. The embryos are healthy looking though! The infertile ones still have no air cells. I think I'm doing something wrong, what is it? I've had this issue before but not on so many eggs in one batch.

 

[AltonaAcres]

I should also add that I have them in a MagicFly incubator. The temp has remained at 37.5 the whole time. I hand turn the eggs 5 times a day (my 1st time hand turning, maybe I'm being too rough)? There is no way to tell the humidity level, but I've never had issues w/ that. I just make sure the water level on the bottom of the incubator doesn't get too low.

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

Larger than normal air cells are usually due to low humidity or older eggs. Are you sure the eggs had no visible air cells when they arrived? Even eggs a day old should have a very small air cell. Can you possibly take and post pics of one of the eggs whilst candling, or draw around the air cells whilst candling them and then post a pic of an egg?

If you are doing everything the same as usual as far as humidity it is likely that the issue is with the eggs being older in which case I don't know if there is much you can do. I have had eggs hatch OK with very large air cells before.

 

[AltonaAcres]

Now I'm wondering if the humidity is low because I have to open the incubator so many times to turn them. In the past, the eggs have been in an auto turner so I rarely open it. But I have too many eggs this batch to fit them in the auto turner. How can I increase humidity even whilst opening it so much? And the eggs had either no air cell or teeny tiny ones bc I didn't notice them. I don't think they are old because old eggs have larger air cells generally. Pics are coming

 

[AltonaAcres]

Sorry, not the best photos, I was trying to hurry as I've already candled them today. You can see in the photos the incubator has a nice level of water and there's even condensation. There are two different eggs I candled. The egg in the 2nd and 4th image (although it's hard to tell from the pic) has a giant air cell. It takes up half the egg (sideways). The boundaries of the air cell are pretty hard to define though. The egg in the 3rd photo's air cell is easy to see. Also, both have healthy embryos and veins it's just so hard to see in the pics.

 

[Uff Da]

I might not be seeing well, but the only air cell I can make out is in the second egg pic. And it's not dreadful. If you are getting condensation your humidity must be awful high. I have the same incubator and I only get condensation during hatching.

Can you get a hygrometer to stick in there? You can get cheap little ones on Amazon that have been accurate for me.

 

[FlomatonsFlocks]

Day 4? Can you see veins or anything? I'm on day three and can't see anything and I'm worried!

 

[2 many chickens]

Day 4? Can you see veins or anything? I'm on day three and can't see anything and I'm worried!

That's Normal. Day 3 and 4 is still early. Try again on day 5.

 

[dougieee]

They dont look overly large as much as detached, they look large because the shipping has detached the aircell and forced the membrane away from the egg wall.
I would personally try an upright hatch to let them settle back to the top, i did a hatch of araucana eggs last year, the aircells were worse than those and settled to the top of the egg in any position it was put, i think you will struggle to get them in any normal state unless you hatch upright.

 

[FlomatonsFlocks]

That's Normal. Day 3 and 4 is still early. Try again on day 5.

I can barely see veins in day five but they are there!!! thank you!