Incubation question

[chickenladytlt]

Hello out there. I just joined BYC and have a question about incubation. Currently I am working on my first effort at incubating. An acquaintence gave me 9 eggs believed to be fertile to try out. After a great deal of trouble regulating the temperature, I think it is finally under control. 3 of the eggs probably weren't fertile. Today is day 7. After candling, 3 eggs definitely have little moving chickies in them. Two have large, dark masses in them. I do not know if these are bigger chicks, or what they are. How can I tell if these eggs were fertilized earlier and are older chicks than the others? Or, more importantly, if they are older, what should I do with these eggs, since they are on a turner with the others? I do have an additional incubator, but there is no way to know how far along these embryos (if that is what they are) may be.

 

[DMRippy]

See if this helps

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/595007/incubation-and-hatching-guide

 

[cochins1088]

Even if they are older eggs, the will not start developing until you start incubating. When fertilized in the hen, cells start to divide and mulitply but then the process stops and will not start again unless conditions are right such as in incubation. I would keep an eye on the 2 with masses in them, they very well could be viable, but they might be bad eggs. I would put them on the other sde of the incubator so you know which ones they are and candle them again in like 3 or 4 days. Then use your best judgement, if they are embryos, it sould be more clear by then, but if they are not, then the egg will most likely be completely dark and will smell.