Newbie hatcher!! Bad eggs

[VannahBee]

Yes! Looking good!

Yay. There is hope?!?

 

[The Happster]

Yay. There is hope?!?

Definitely.
Don't chuck that egg.
It's looking good. There was a good candling article here on BYC somewhere. Helpful photos too.

 

[ladybrasa]

Unless you handled them roughly, scrambling is from shipping. I doubt the seller shook them so bad they scrambled. However a better labeled box may have been helpful. And of course the quality of the egg to begin with. The batch I received that I am not pleased with had completely detached air cells (this would be from shipping), but the eggs also seemed a little too dirty which is suggestive of not great nesting conditions, the air cells seems rather large possibly indicating an older egg, and maybe the shells are too porous which might mean the hens aren’t getting enough calcium. These are just speculation though.

 

[ladybrasa]

Oh, I just recalled - I think I remember reading somewhere that lavender Americana eggs might have a lower hatch rate anyway?? Can someone verify?

 

[The Happster]

Oh, I just recalled - I think I remember reading somewhere that lavender Americana eggs might have a lower hatch rate anyway?? Can someone verify?

Nope, pretty sure that's Auracanas. Because they have a lethal gene.

Either way -these eggs should have been better cared for before they left or on the way to yours. Really hope you get one hatchling, but maybe it would be better if none hatch, so you don't just get one on its own.

 

[Trisseh]

Shipped eggs are the biggest gamble, and it’s always so discouraging when you order expensive eggs and have them quit or not develop at all. I’m not sure about USPS (I’m in Canada) but our postal system is similar in many ways, and it’s totally luck of the draw. I’ve been ordering from a hatchery in Manitoba, the eggs travel 2 days typically to get to me, and I’ve had various things happen. they package them exceptionally well but there are so many things that can happen on the way. I’ve had scrambled eggs in with totally fine, made it to hatch eggs. The last batch of eggs I got shipped on the 30th of June, so I expected them the Friday. Nope, they sat who knows where over the entire weekend and didn’t make it to me til the following Monday. Spent almost a week in the mail and were all jiggly air celled and some eggs were sweating. But, out of 16 eggs, I have 9 developing. So you never know. And I set those eggs about 4 hours after they arrived.

Best to candle from the fat end where the air cell is, you get better definition of the egg contents especially early on. If your incubator keeps the eggs upright, it also may take longer to be able to see anything because the developing embryo can “hide” under the air cell, and won’t be apparent until it’s a bit bigger. with practice and time you’ll become more confident with what you’re seeing. I use my phone flashlight and Im able to see what I need to.

as for pitching dead eggs, good rule of thumb when you’re starting out, any egg that isn’t smelly or oozing can stay in. it sounds like you’re like me and like to candle more often, so you’ll be able to see changes in the eggs over time, too, if they are developing.

I also concur with not getting eggs from this seller again, as you definitely should not be having bad eggs this early on. Many people don’t candle at all and rarely or never have an egg-splosion.

 

[VannahBee]

Shipped eggs are the biggest gamble, and it’s always so discouraging when you order expensive eggs and have them quit or not develop at all. I’m not sure about USPS (I’m in Canada) but our postal system is similar in many ways, and it’s totally luck of the draw. I’ve been ordering from a hatchery in Manitoba, the eggs travel 2 days typically to get to me, and I’ve had various things happen. they package them exceptionally well but there are so many things that can happen on the way. I’ve had scrambled eggs in with totally fine, made it to hatch eggs. The last batch of eggs I got shipped on the 30th of June, so I expected them the Friday. Nope, they sat who knows where over the entire weekend and didn’t make it to me til the following Monday. Spent almost a week in the mail and were all jiggly air celled and some eggs were sweating. But, out of 16 eggs, I have 9 developing. So you never know. And I set those eggs about 4 hours after they arrived.

Best to candle from the fat end where the air cell is, you get better definition of the egg contents especially early on. If your incubator keeps the eggs upright, it also may take longer to be able to see anything because the developing embryo can “hide” under the air cell, and won’t be apparent until it’s a bit bigger. with practice and time you’ll become more confident with what you’re seeing. I use my phone flashlight and Im able to see what I need to.

as for pitching dead eggs, good rule of thumb when you’re starting out, any egg that isn’t smelly or oozing can stay in. it sounds like you’re like me and like to candle more often, so you’ll be able to see changes in the eggs over time, too, if they are developing.

I also concur with not getting eggs from this seller again, as you definitely should not be having bad eggs this early on. Many people don’t candle at all and rarely or never have an egg-splosion.

I watched so many videos on eggsplosions it scared me. I dont want my only good egg to be destroyed. I probably need to not candle as much. I guess this is a practice round. Unfortunately it's a 60 dollar practice round. I tend to jump when I see something fun. I thought about it after paying that this is a huge gamble. and when they got I was relieved but disappointed that the box look like any old box coming from ebay. Nothing special. Nothing saying fragile. And I know for a fact that usps throws packages. From one end to the truck to the other. Or in the warehouse.

What would a smelly egg smell like?

 

[The Happster]

Like a bad egg....
You would know if you smelt it. Just put your nose to them all.
If they feel swishy, then I'd chuck them too.

 

[VannahBee]

Ok so this egg had a air sac but on the side. Possibly my fault for not letting sit a total of 24 hours. Or maybe it didn't sit the right way. But this should have been a day 5 or 6 egg. Unfortunately it look to me like the embryo died early on? Any suggestions on what could have happened? No veins so I'm not sure.

 

[The Happster]

It doesn't look like it ever started growing.
More like it wasn't viable before it got to you. Maybe this one was a bit scrambled too.