is this dead

[007Sean]

I've had quite a few saddled air celled eggs, from shipped eggs, like the above egg. They did not hatch, (dis) at point of saddle forming. I think it depends on the serverity of the saddling on wether or not it will hatch.
Edited after thinking about it: when I opened my saddled eggs to have a "look see" there was little development of the embryo. They ded early on in the process.

 

[lazy gardener]

That looks like a HUGE air cell.

 

[007Sean]

That looks like a HUGE air cell.

X2

 

[Maggie1030]

I have Silkie eggs on day 16 and a few of mine look the same way. I do not see veining on them just most of the egg dark with air cell. My eggs were shipped too. There was veins a few days ago but now toward the egg they look like yours. I'm wondering if they are alive any more?

 

[007Sean]

I have Silkie eggs on day 16 and a few of mine look the same way. I do not see veining on them just most of the egg dark with air cell. My eggs were shipped too. There was veins a few days ago but now toward the egg they look like yours. I'm wondering if they are alive any more?

Yep, early on you will see veins but a few days later and it will be dark, unable to see anything. The saddling occurs due to the air cell being detached. Letting them settle will sometimes let the air cell re -attach, if you continue to incubate them, don't turn the eggs to as great a degree has they would normally be in an auto turner, maybe 10° left and right of center, verus 45° normally, and 180° with each turn, being very gentle and careful not to disturb/shake the egg too much.

 

[Joeschooks]

Post a picture of candling from the bottom and top. It looks like a saddle air cell and darkness below the air cell.

I would not toss that egg!

Agreed! Nearly all my shipped eggs from my last hatch had saddle air cell - it's common with shipped eggs and every single one hatched. Sadly one died on day one but the other 9 are happy healthy chicks that are running around my brooder as we speak!

 

[oregonkat]

Agreed! Nearly all my shipped eggs from my last hatch had saddle air cell - it's common with shipped eggs and every single one hatched. Sadly one died on day one but the other 9 are happy healthy chicks that are running around my brooder as we speak!

Did you incubate them upright in a carton and turn them gently side to side several times a day?

 

[ronott1]

Great posts!

Not all saddle air cells are detached. You can tell that by tilting the egg before incubation and see the air cell moving down towards the bottom.

Letting them rest and being very gentle with them for the first week makes a big difference.

At lockdown, they do better in cut down cartons and tilted so that the biggest part of the air cell is up...which can be hard with saddle air cells!

If the the air cell is not detached, they hatch at 50% or more. If the air cell is detached, they hatch at 10 to 25%.

There is still a chance though!

 

[oregonkat]

If the aircells are not detached but shaped other than round, do you want to incubate them upright from the beginning of incubation and manually turn them?

 

[007Sean]

If the aircells are not detached but shaped other than round, do you want to incubate them upright from the beginning of incubation and manually turn them?

That's correct