New to this, have i done something wrong or are the eggs just not fertile ?

[Gypsymoon_x]

Hey Everyone,

I put 12 buff silkie eggs ( bought off a reputable breeder ) in the incubator just over a week ago, i've candled them, i have 3 growing happily, 2 that look like something started to happen but maybe stopped, then the rest all you can see is the yolk.. does this mean they weren't fertile or the conditions just weren't suitable for them ? Thanks

 

[MysteryChicken]

Hey Everyone,

I put 12 buff silkie eggs ( bought off a reputable breeder ) in the incubator just over a week ago, i've candled them, i have 3 growing happily, 2 that look like something started to happen but maybe stopped, then the rest all you can see is the yolk.. does this mean they weren't fertile or the conditions just weren't suitable for them ? Thanks

Shipping does effect fertilized eggs negatively sometimes.

 

[wrathsfarm]

If they were shipped, I've read horror stories all season about bad hatches this year. I had a dozen shipped and only hatched 2 this year from them.

Wishing you good luck with your hatch.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

I am sorry your hatch is struggling. Shipping can be rough on eggs, they say a 50% hatch is a great hatch for shipped eggs, but many times its 30% or less. Its very important to let shipped eggs rest, big end up, for a day or 2 before setting to let all the air bubbles reform the air cell. Candle the eggs before setting and mark any saddle shaped air cells. Set eggs in a 24 hour prewarmed incubator and its always advised to use a small temp/humidity gauge inside the machine along with the machines gauge. Best wishes you get a few to hatch!

 

[Ridgerunner]

We are assuming they were shipped eggs. I've only hatched shipped eggs twice, shipped through the US mail. One time I hatched 5 out of 5, the other 1 out of 6. That's close to a 50% average but each individual hatch wasn't even close to 50%. Those were turkey eggs for what that's worth.

Shipping is not in your control or the breeders control, other than the breeder determines how they are packaged. The eggs may be badly shaken or may be exposed to extreme heat or cold. Often the eggs are put in airplanes. Lots of things can happen to shipped eggs. Or they may be fine.

Once I brought 30 hatching eggs home on the floorboard of my car on rough country roads. That was dumb, only 10 hatched. They should have been better cushioned on the seat.

There are some other factors not in your control. How and how long were those eggs stored before they came to you. Were there fertility problems with the hens or especially the rooster?

I don't know what incubator you are using or how you are incubating them. It's always possible you did something wrong but with some starting to develop you probably did OK.

 

[Gypsymoon_x]

They weren't shipped, she drove probably about an hr and i drove about half an hr back home, she has a high fertility rate, i just wasn't sure if it's something i've done wrong or if those just weren't fertile ( i'm not sure if there is a way they check before selling ? ) sorry again i'm new to this, i've done as much research as i can, i have a hygrometer inside, i'm using a hhd incubator which i know isn't the best, but wanted to see how it all works before spending more money on a better one

 

[TwoCrows]

They weren't shipped, she drove probably about an hr and i drove about half an hr back home, she has a high fertility rate, i just wasn't sure if it's something i've done wrong or if those just weren't fertile ( i'm not sure if there is a way they check before selling ? ) sorry again i'm new to this, i've done as much research as i can, i have a hygrometer inside, i'm using a hhd incubator which i know isn't the best, but wanted to see how it all works before spending more money on a better one

What is your humidity and temp readings right now?

 

[Gypsymoon_x]

What is your humidity and temp readings right now?

Temp is 37.7 celsius and humidity sits from 40% to 50%, i'm in Australia , theres so much information online it's hard to know what the correct thing is.

 

[TwoCrows]

Temp is 37.7 celsius and humidity sits from 40% to 50%, i'm in Australia , theres so much information online it's hard to know what the correct thing is.

Sounds like things are in track. What day are you on? Can you get a photo of a candled egg? Its possible all is well and they are growing properly. As the embryos grow, they fill the entire space with the exception of the air cell.

 

[Ridgerunner]

i'm not sure if there is a way they check before selling ?

There are some lab tests but I would not consider them very practical. The best you can do is test incubate some eggs. Bu inference, if the eggs you incubate develop then the others should be fertile.