question about candling shipped eggs

[chuckachucka]

I posted elsewhere about a problem I am having with some shipped serama eggs currently under a broody hen.

I candles them because I was worried about them being damaged in posting, on day 8, and found 2 out of 6 not developing at all (which I discarded), 2 looking very questionable with massive/uneven air cells and contents that move around inside when I tilt the egg(which I returned to the nest), and 2 that looked like they were developing but with large uneven/saddle air cells.

Well today (day14) when the hen got off the nest for her morning walk about, I could not resist having a peek. I picked up one of the 2 very questionable ones and felt the contents sort of slosh a bit when I moved it again. So I decided to discard it so it could not potentially compromise the nest. Before cracking it I thought to just candle it again to be sure and I was surprised to find it looking very dark inside (in the half that isn't a big weird shaped air cell).

I only candle with a torch so am never able to see veins or detail and usually judge development by dark solidness and a growing air cell. So is it possible this egg is developing? Is it normal to feel the contents tip and tilt around in there when gently moving the egg at this stage (day14)?? Its not quite a sloshing around but more like the whole contents roll round to one side when rotated.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

If in doubt, smell it. There is no mistaking a "compromised" egg.

If you bring them in the house and candle them in a dark room, that will help you see in them better.

 

[chuckachucka]

Thanks for the reply! So even at this stage I should be able to sniff out a bad egg? Thanks for the tip. Will have to check it the next time the hen leaves the nest.