Half Shell Hatch-A-Long! (Caution, unsuccessful, please read whole thread before attempting)

[SnapdragonQ]

This is kind of unknown territory for most of us but I do know that the membrane will eventually turn white before the chicks are ready for hatch. I know this from assisting and needing to apply ointment to make the membrane translucent again but I don't actually know at what point this happens. I also think the darker chick may just have darker plumage?

That's what I was thinking. How do we know the membrane stays clear in a normal egg because we can't normally see it! And yes, they are white when the chick hatches. Maybe it's normal for them to slowly turn papery white near the end ??

 

[MGG]

This is kind of unknown territory for most of us but I do know that the membrane will eventually turn white before the chicks are ready for hatch. I know this from assisting and needing to apply ointment to make the membrane translucent again but I don't actually know at what point this happens. I also think the darker chick may just have darker plumage?

Thanks for replying. I opened the pointy end, so there's only the inner membrane showing. I think it's different that the air cell membrane, I don't think it's supposed to turn white. The cloudiness is in the egg itself. The membrane is still clear. This confuses me so much, lol.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

Thanks for replying. Yeah, I don't know
Shadowing is what they do a few days before internal pip. It's where you can see a tiny bit of them moving around in the air cell. I think maybe they're loosening the membrane when they do that or something? But don't quote me on that.

I thought shadowing was during lockdown when they were trying to get through for internal pip. Thus seeing the shadow in the air cell.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I thought shadowing was during lockdown when they were trying to get through for internal pip. Thus seeing the shadow in the air cell.

I've never called it that but that's what it sounds like to me too. Internal pip would be considered "shadowing".

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Thanks for replying. I opened the pointy end, so there's only the inner membrane showing. I think it's different that the air cell membrane, I don't think it's supposed to turn white. The cloudiness is in the egg itself. The membrane is still clear. This confuses me so much, lol.

When you open the air cell you're only looking at the internal membrane as well. I've never opened the pointed end on any egg so I'm honestly surprised that there is even an air pocket. Having them upside-down may cause them to lose the air cell that is now in the bottom and use the pointed end instead.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

You know...I'm wondering about something...
As a bread baker I know a person can make a sourdough starter just from collecting yeast and natural bacteria in the air and not use a "starter" culture. It takes a little longer, but is the traditional way to do it.
Starters in different places taste different because of the regional differences in the air, like San Francisco sourdough.

So what does this have to do with embryos.. well, in the one video I watched on this the egg was surrounded by a clear membrane (saran wrap??) all the way around and through the process. Thus replacing the barrier of the egg shell, which we know is part of what keeps the bad bacteria out.
I'm wondering if the open places on the shells are inherently prone to picking up natural bacteria in the air?? No matter how clean the environment, natural bacteria is all around us.

 

[MGG]

I've never called it that but that's what it sounds like to me too. Internal pip would be considered "shadowing".

Lol! That's what I've always called it. I guess maybe my terminology is wrong.

I thought shadowing was during lockdown when they were trying to get through for internal pip. Thus seeing the shadow in the air cell.

Yeah, basically. Though mine are always visibly shadowing by day 15 or so.

 

[JaeG]

I've never called it that but that's what it sounds like to me too. Internal pip would be considered "shadowing".

To me internal pip is the internal pip. Especially with duck eggs there's a lot of shadowing before the internal pip happens (drove me nuts when I hatched ducks because they do it for days). It's where the chick pushes against the membrane under the air cell creating a moving shadow there.

This fabulous thread talks about it and has diagrams to illustrate it:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/goose-incubation-hatching-guide-completed.491013/

 

[MGG]

You know...I'm wondering about something...
As a bread baker I know a person can make a sourdough starter just from collecting yeast and natural bacteria in the air and not use and "starter" culture. It takes a little longer, but is the traditional way to do it.
Starters in different places taste different because of the regional differences in the air, like San Francisco sourdough.

So what does this have to do with embryos.. well, in the one video I watched on this the egg was surrounded by a clear membrane (saran wrap??) all the way around and through the process. Thus replacing the barrier of the egg shell, which we know is part of what keeps the bad bacteria out.
I'm wondering if the open places on the shells are inherently prone to picking up natural bacteria in the air?? No matter how clean the environment, natural bacteria is all around us.

That is really interesting. I've never thought of that. I suppose it is entirely possible. I just am not sure if what I'm seeing in all of them is bacteria or not. #2 definitely had some, but I am not sure about the other 3.

 

[MGG]

To me internal pip is the internal pip. Especially with duck eggs there's a lot of shadowing before the internal pip happens (drove me nuts when I hatched ducks because they do it for days). It's where the chick pushes against the membrane under the air cell creating a moving shadow there.

This fabulous thread talks about it and has diagrams to illustrate it:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/goose-incubation-hatching-guide-completed.491013/

Thanks! Yes, this is what I was reffering too.