Not what I expected on day four :(

[Pinky Macgyver]

Hi, this is my first attempt at incubating and I candled my eggs today, thinking there would be some veins or something as it's day four but there's only a dark area.

is that just the yolk? Does that mean the eggs aren't developing?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't even bother candling eggs until after 7 days. I just have too much trouble seeing anything until then, but by then I can usually tell what's going on. Usually, but I don't toss any eggs until 14 days just to be sure. I have had surprises.

I advise patience.

Good luck!

 

[sumi]

X2 Candle again on day 7 and if there are any clears, candle them again on day 10 to make sure. Some are slow to show development.

 

[Pinky Macgyver]

Thanks. I'm so stressed about/for them. I really hope I haven't killed them. But you're right, I'm probably worrying too early.

 

[CluckAcres]

X2 Candle again on day 7 and if there are any clears, candle them again on day 10 to make sure. Some are slow to show development.

x3

 

[Pinky Macgyver]

I posted this on my Facebook and someone instantly replied with "not fertile. There would be an air bubble"

 

[CluckAcres]

I posted this on my Facebook and someone instantly replied with "not fertile. There would be an air bubble"

The air bubble they are refering to is the air sac. All eggs have the air sac fertile or not fertile. The chicks need that air sac. As you incubate you will notice the air sac get bigger that is what its suppose to do. When the chick hatches it goes thru the air sac to get its first breath and thats where it pips at. You will find this air sac (air bubble) on the fat side of the egg. Im sure you have cooked hard boiled eggs before right? When you peel the egg shell off you notice at one end of the egg it has a dip in the egg. That is where the air sac was. Hope this helps you out. Any more questions or concerns feel free to ask. I am incubating 25 egg right now. I am on day 7.

 

[Pinky Macgyver]

Thankyou so much, that is a big help. I just didn't put two and two together that all eggs would have the air sac. Phew

 

[sumi]

I posted this on my Facebook and someone instantly replied with "not fertile. There would be an air bubble"

FB. Here is a great article on incubating eggs:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

Good luck with your hatch and keep us posted!

 

[Ridgerunner]

If it's on Facebook it has to be true.

Where did you hear that?

On Facebook.

When incubating patience is usually your friend. Don't be too quick to do anything drastic unless an egg starts to smell like it has that "rotten egg" smell or starts to weep moisture. Then it is time to get that egg out of your house. Gently get it out. This really does not happen often so don't freak about it, but it does on rare occasion happen. It's the only real risk with incubation I can think of.

Where did you hear this? On the internet.