Please help. Did my embryo die?

[Mary Coleman]

So today is the two week mark for my embden goose eggs. I candled them and the first one looked great, big veins running all over and I could see movement, but the second egg was just a dark blob on one side of the egg. I couldn't make out any veins or see any movement. Is the egg okay or has it gone bad? How can I tell if an embryo has died? I may just be over reacting, but I just want to be sure.

(sorry it's not the greatest photo) but you can see that it's just a dark blob.

 

[WalnutHill]

OH good. I just realized that there's a brown paper looking membrane that's shrinked down to where about his beak meats his head. In think this might be bad.

Agreed, I think he can be declared stuck. Those yellow crystals indicate that he is going to be glued in with what is half-jokingly referred to as "gorilla snot" that when it dries is like epoxy.

Ravyn is our waterfowl specialist. But when it's time to help, you will need a bowl of warm water, a dry towel, a warm wet towel, a warm draft free place (under a brooder lamp is fine), a comfortable seat and a table or counter to work on. Not stone or tile, it's too cold.

Please read this article first https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching but remember that what you see needs to be your guide. Use your own judgement to determine whether to stop or proceed.

 

[Mary Coleman]

I think I'm going to have to help him. It's been well over 40 hrs of no progress.

 

[WalnutHill]

With the yolk like it is, it's probably best to keep him in restricted quarters. What say, @RavynFallen?

 

[Mary Coleman]

Well, checked Gary (that's his name I've decided ) and he looked great! No sign of the yolk so i moved him to a brooder box and he has learned to lift up his big head and he stood up for a few seconds to look over at my very curious baby turkeys in the brooder next door. He was making the happiest little peeps when I came in. Things are looking really good and I couldn't be happier. Any idea how to tell if Gary's a boy or girl? I've heard that you can tell embdens apart with the gray on their back....?

 

[Mary Coleman]

Well, Gary is no longer a lone goose! These two just hatched today and one more on the way (hopefully). This time I decided to give the eggs to one of my broody Cochin hens and the results were FAR better than my last attempt. I felt a little bad about taking away my hens babies, but I think she'll get over it. I may end up buying her a few chicks as reward for her four weeks of sitting.

 

[WalnutHill]

Are you candling into the air cell? (sorry, it's not real clear in the photo).

If you shine the light into the air cell, you will see the blood vessels if they are present and active. Watch for spontaneous movement as well.

 

[Mary Coleman]

Yes I shined the light into the air cell, but all I saw was a dark blob. No veins or anything... :/

 

[WalnutHill]

The air cells look really, really small for 14 days into incubation. What humidity level are you using, and what type of incubator?

 

[Mary Coleman]

It's a mini incubator so I have to turn the eggs 5X a day by hand. The humidity is at about 50%.