Incubator newbie. Refrigerated eggs.

[ChristieB]

Hi, this is the first time I've ever attempted to hatch eggs so I have a few questions.

First the story, July 15 I bought 2 laying pullets from an ad on facebook, araucanas. The first 3 days they gave me eggs then had a bit of a break, quarantine isn't exactly inspiring for a hen, they started up again the day after I put them in the main coop lol.
As I usually do I put the eggs in the fridge with the rest. Around a week later I realised those hens had been in with roosters when I bought them. After picking the brains of the folk on the Aussie thread I decided to have a go at incubating. Took the 5 I could find out of the fridge and put them out of reach of the kids. Then my daughter had to go to hospital so setting eggs went on hold. They sat up on the cupboard for another week. When we got home the mini incubator I'd ordered (Janoel 10) had arrived so I moved aside the homemade one and turned the new one on, the next night it was holding stable so I set the eggs on August 1st. I couldn't wait any more so I candled on the 6th (day 5?), 4 of 5 had development!! One was clear but I've left it for now. Tonight is day 10 I candled again and those 4 have all progressed properly and I can see them moving inside the shell.
I'm not getting my hopes up, getting these eggs to this point against all odds is a success to me hatching even one will just be a bonus.

Now the questions,
1.the clear is still in there but now has a dark mass (yolk?) visible, should I get rid of it or leave it till lock down.

2. One egg I noticed when marking has a slight crack in the shell, it's developing as normal but should I be watching for anything as a result of the crack?

3. One shell is darker in spots when I candle, research of pictures that look the same say it's a sign of a porus shell and that these don't usually hatch, the chick is developing at the same rate as the others so as above, what should I be looking for.

Will post photos later, it's 10.55pm here and I'm off to bed

Thanks in advance

 

[mommaford09]

Definitely take the clear one out. If you don't it could explode and will be really stinking. Trust me on this it is not a smell you want to have in your house. I learned the hard way.

On the cracked one, I read you could rub beeswax on the crack. But I am not sure if it will still hatch or not.

And the third I would have to see pics to know what you are talking about.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hi, this is the first time I've ever attempted to hatch eggs so I have a few questions.

First the story, July 15 I bought 2 laying pullets from an ad on facebook, araucanas. The first 3 days they gave me eggs then had a bit of a break, quarantine isn't exactly inspiring for a hen, they started up again the day after I put them in the main coop lol.
As I usually do I put the eggs in the fridge with the rest. Around a week later I realised those hens had been in with roosters when I bought them. After picking the brains of the folk on the Aussie thread I decided to have a go at incubating. Took the 5 I could find out of the fridge and put them out of reach of the kids. Then my daughter had to go to hospital so setting eggs went on hold. They sat up on the cupboard for another week. When we got home the mini incubator I'd ordered (Janoel 10) had arrived so I moved aside the homemade one and turned the new one on, the next night it was holding stable so I set the eggs on August 1st. I couldn't wait any more so I candled on the 6th (day 5?), 4 of 5 had development!! One was clear but I've left it for now. Tonight is day 10 I candled again and those 4 have all progressed properly and I can see them moving inside the shell.
I'm not getting my hopes up, getting these eggs to this point against all odds is a success to me hatching even one will just be a bonus.

Now the questions,
1.the clear is still in there but now has a dark mass (yolk?) visible, should I get rid of it or leave it till lock down.

2. One egg I noticed when marking has a slight crack in the shell, it's developing as normal but should I be watching for anything as a result of the crack?

3. One shell is darker in spots when I candle, research of pictures that look the same say it's a sign of a porus shell and that these don't usually hatch, the chick is developing at the same rate as the others so as above, what should I be looking for.

Will post photos later, it's 10.55pm here and I'm off to bed

Thanks in advance

I would toss the clear one. The cracked one you can attempt to save by covering the crack with wax, I've heard fingernail polish and glue as well. As for the porous one, as long as it's developing fine and the air cell isn't growing too big too fast, I wouldn't worry too much. I've hatched out a couple different eggs that were overly porous with no problems and had healthy chicks.
Good luck to you and your hatch!

 

[ChristieB]

Was just candling and marking air cells when suddenly my cat was there, I moved my hand and the egg dropped onto the bench top it cracked half way around, it was the already cracked one, I can still see the chick moving inside so I've taped it closed as best I can and put it back, I'm under no illusions that it might survive I just couldn't bring myself to dispose of it while it was still alive. Poor babe, half way today and all 4 developers had made it, I cracked the clear open and it was infertile.
So bummed that the only loss so far was my fault!
Here's some pics of the others though

And the one I thought might be porus

Sorry not the best pictures,

 

[RubyNala97]

Sorry about the accident!! I would have done the same thing. If the chick was still moving, I couldn't have thrown it out. It will be very prone to bacteria now that it's cracked so much. I had one with a tiny hairline crack and I covered it with wax. It started but turned into a red ring by day 7. I've also had porous eggs hatch fine. And you're right, that one is porous. Good luck with the 3. I hope they all hatch!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Sorry about the accident!! I would have done the same thing. If the chick was still moving, I couldn't have thrown it out. It will be very prone to bacteria now that it's cracked so much. I had one with a tiny hairline crack and I covered it with wax. It started but turned into a red ring by day 7. I've also had porous eggs hatch fine. And you're right, that one is porous. Good luck with the 3. I hope they all hatch!

xs 2, I couldn't throw one out knowing it was still alive.

 

[ChristieB]

Well little omlet was still kicking at midday today, I had to stick my head under my blankets to see ofcourse, there was some blood along the crack but none fresh, I don't actually own any nail polish any more, my kids painted my phone with the last one I had, so I've asked my friend to bring some around, I'm not sure I want to try peeling the tape off since for the moment it seems to be working :/ time will tell I guess. I'll candle again once the kids are asleep to see how it's gone this afternoon

 

[RubyNala97]

Well little omlet was still kicking at midday today, I had to stick my head under my blankets to see ofcourse, there was some blood along the crack but none fresh, I don't actually own any nail polish any more, my kids painted my phone with the last one I had, so I've asked my friend to bring some around, I'm not sure I want to try peeling the tape off since for the moment it seems to be working :/ time will tell I guess. I'll candle again once the kids are asleep to see how it's gone this afternoon

This is just my personal opinion, but I would be worried about putting nail polish on that egg, since it's more then just a hairline crack, right? I think there is too many toxins in it. Maybe wax or just leave the tape and pray for the best. Can you post a pic of the cracks?

 

[ChristieB]

That's fair enough. I've left the tape as it seems to be doing it's job keeping it relatively sealed, still movement almost 48 hours since cracking, bit of a fighter !

 

[RubyNala97]

Wow! Thanks for those pictures. That's great. I would just leave it alone. Looks like if the chick was strong enough, it might be able to pull through. Wash your hands extra good when handling that one. Good luck! I hope it keeps progressing!