I dropped an egg and it broke in the incubator

[shyylo]

I feel simply awful. I was candling for the first time ever. Dropped an egg and it broke all over one side of the incubator tray. I removed all the eggs and washed off the tray and cleaned. I put the eggs back in. The egg I broke was fertile and developing. I could see the embryo. I was in tears. This is my first hatch. I did not wash the eggs. Just wiped one that has a little splatter on it.
I am so worried now about the others. What if I didn’t clean it all well enough?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I think you have done what you can. Here's hoping your hatch comes out great

 

[007Sean]

Should be ok, unless you drop another one. Don't beat yourself up too bad, we have all done that before...Good luck with your hatch!

 

[Abriana]

so sorry about your egg. I know the guilty feeling. Just remember that it was an accident—you obviously love your babies! Try to not feel too bad about it

A good tip for if there is just a crack in a developing egg is paint over it with clear nail polish. I’ve had a developing egg get cracked before and I painted over it with clear nail polish and the chick hatched out just fine.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I think that's the fear of all who incubate...and, unfortunately, it's so easily done. When I candle, I take all the eggs out and put them in egg cartons (instead of trying to reach into a tabletop incubator and then put them back in), then place them all back in after candling. Will it prevent drops? No, but I think it helps reduce the risk, and I haven't dropped one yet.

As for the eggs that got egg goo on them, I also wouldn't worry much about it - I don't wash hatching eggs prior to setting, and they've had mud, poop, and egg goo on them, and none have exploded or infected others.

 

[shyylo]

Thanks everyone. That helps. I will follow up and let you know how the hatch goes. June 9th should be the day.

 

[shyylo]

My brinsea mini 2 advance says 5 more days. When do I lockdown? I saw the eggs wiggle tonight and I am worried because it automatically turns and I will be at work tomorrow. I am afraid if they hatch early it will hurt them. What do I do? 2 silkie eggs and 2 faverolle eggs. Day 17 I guess. Incubator says 5 more days about to switch to 4 more days.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Lockdown is typically at 3 days to hatch, but locking down at 4 days before hatch should be fine - turning isn't as important at this point.

 

[shyylo]

Lockdown is typically at 3 days to hatch, but locking down at 4 days before hatch should be fine - turning isn't as important at this point.

thank you.

 

[shyylo]

UPDATE: all four eggs hatched. All are well. The silkies are having some troubles walking. Two faverolles and two silkies. One faverolle took over 30 hours. I think it was positioned wrong and there was more blood than the others. However at 14 hours old is doing fine.