Incubating egg with white and clear bubbles on eggshell

[Lizzy11]

We are at day 18 of incubation. One egg with these bubbles removed however there is still some residue. Can I cover this one spot so hatched chicks do not touch this area. Im afraid to move the eggs since they are in lockdown. The egg was removed quickly. We did not realize what the bubbles were until I read your posts.

 

[Debbie292d]

For reference, this is the post Lizzy was referring to: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-bubbles-on-incubating-egg.983741/#post-28488773

 

[NatJ]

there is still some residue. Can I cover this one spot so hatched chicks do not touch this area. Im afraid to move the eggs since they are in lockdown.

If the residue it's wet or sticky, I would probably get a damp cloth and wipe it up.

If the residue is already dry, I might try to wipe it up or might leave it alone. If it won't wipe up, I would definitely leave it alone.

I do not think touching it will hurt the chicks. If it's in the incubator at all, they are exposed to the bacteria from that leaking egg. Whether they actually touch it should not make much difference.

I would not try to cover it. Whatever you might cover it with, the chicks will probably move that around after they hatch. They may get tangled up, or they may cover other eggs, or they may block vent holes, or various other problems. I think it will be safer to just leave it uncovered.

 

[Lizzy11]

Thank you NatJ and Debbie!
Is there anything, I can do as they hatch, to prevent the chicks from getting sick.

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you NatJ and Debbie!
Is there anything, I can do as they hatch, to prevent the chicks from getting sick.

You're welcome!

Like Natj mentioned, they're in there with it so already have been exposed, but you've got anything wet wiped up so they shouldn't get anything on them. Nothing says that it's that toxic really, just could have some bacteria.

If these were mine, when the time comes to remove the chicks (after all of the pipped ones have hatched), I would move them to the brooder. I would give them all fresh water, to start, then replace that with vitamin water to help them fight off anything. We use Poultry Cell or NutraDrench but there are other brands that are fine too. I do that anyway.

I would keep a close eye on them for the first couple of hours for signs of anything, but I really think they'll be fine.

Congratulations in advance! I hope they all hatch!

 

[NatJ]

Thank you NatJ and Debbie!
Is there anything, I can do as they hatch, to prevent the chicks from getting sick.

I would just give them normal good care, and I expect they will probably be fine.

The bacteria that cause a rotten egg may not cause trouble for an already-hatched chick.

 

[Lizzy11]

Thanks again NatJ.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Bacteria thrive in warm moist environments with organic material present (an incubator exactly) and unless you are using aseptic technique throughout incubation your incubator is breeding something, but don’t panic, most bacteria are not bad, actually life on this planet might not be possible without them and other single cell organisms. This is also why chicks have immune systems. I doubt a naturally hatched chick is born into an environment anywhere near as clean as an average incubator yet birds don’t go extinct even so. Don’t panic! Clean up any obvious contamination or let it dry out, and if you are really worried, pull chicks every 4-6 hours at hatch to minimize contact with potential pathogens, add warm water a few minutes before opening the lid, be ready to just grab babies and be in and out quick which should minimize shrink wrap danger to hatching chicks.

 

[Lizzy11]

Bacteria thrive in warm moist environments with organic material present (an incubator exactly) and unless you are using aseptic technique throughout incubation your incubator is breeding something, but don’t panic, most bacteria are not bad, actually life on this planet might not be possible without them and other single cell organisms. This is also why chicks have immune systems. I doubt a naturally hatched chick is born into an environment anywhere near as clean as an average incubator yet birds don’t go extinct even so. Don’t panic! Clean up any obvious contamination or let it dry out, and if you are really worried, pull chicks every 4-6 hours at hatch to minimize contact with potential pathogens, add warm water a few minutes before opening the lid, be ready to just grab babies and be in and out quick which should minimize shrink wrap danger to hatching chicks.

Thank you Susan. We have 1 more day. I'll keep everyone posted!

 

[Lizzy11]

Hello everyone,
I'm sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I said I would get keep you posted. Out of 18 eggs 8 hatched healthy chicks. We did get rid of the egg with white bubbles on it. I placed it in a zip lock bag, broke it. It had dark liquid in it. The rest we are assuming were not fertile. We have started another incubation cycle. This time I chose eggs that were round not oval.