How to tell if an egg is definitly going to hatch? Might upset someone

[houndit]

I hatched a bunch of Chicken eggs last week. They were scheduled to hatch late Thursday to early Friday. Most hatched on Friday and 2 slow pokes hatched on Saturday. I always leave them extra time to make sure there are no late ones. I made sure I could not hear any peeping or pipping noises. Then I tried to candle them. This one was blue and I have not yet successfully candled a blue egg. I threw out about 18 and one of them had a chick that was still alive. I know it was alive cause it kicked for just a minute. I feel bad because I do not like to kill animals unless we are eating them or they are harming our farm, and because that is another chick I could have had. So do you have any tips for making sure an egg is not going to hatch? I left it till just a couple minutes ago. That is 3 and a half days.

 

[saddina]

There's a warm water trick, I've not done it myself, but read about it a day or so ago.

 

[ZZsBabiez]

I put the egg up to my ear and tap it with my fingernail.. usually you can hear something.. if not peeping. Or a real strong mag light inside a dark closet.. even with blue or Marans, you can still see veins somehwere.. if you can't see veins and don't hear anything at all.. chances are it's gone.
Also.. a dead chick won't generate heat.. it will start to cool real fast.. put it on your cheek and feel for heat..

Don't beat yourself up about it.. if it didn't hatch by the 3rd day, odds are against getting a good chick even if it did hatch... I know there are exceptions.. That's why the hens are the experts.

i'm sorry that happened to you.. I know it's hard.

 

[houndit]

Where can I find this information?

 

[spook]

Now I cannot tell you an easy way to candle eggs other then when I'm not sure, I leave them, but also holding the egg upright, use you hand and shadow the flash light and look at the very edge of the air space, you should see motion or clear, no veins. I turn the egg so I can see all sides. Unfortunately I leave more eggs in the bator until last minute.
Some eggs, you just have to wait and see. For example turkey eggs.

I have been told there is a special tool that checks to see if a heartbeat is present. Not sure how much that would cost tho!!!
Good luck and keep in mind your only doing the best you can. We all do something like what you did. My opinion...just set the egg in the garbage and walk away, that is what I've learned to do.

 

[houndit]

That is interesting about the temperature. I will have to try that. I did think that it probably would not hatch by then. But I still wish I had been able to tell.
Thanks.

 

[saddina]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=203935

There's the thread.

 

[houndit]

That is a good point about just throwing it away. I like to see if they developed though.
Thanks.

 

[houndit]

Thanks for that link. It is very interesting to think about.

 

[thechickenchick]

Quote:
This is what I have learned to do as well. I learned this the hard way of course......