Question about egg turner

[NEHorse]

This is my first time using an egg turner. Iam just over two weeks in (some duck, some chicken and I know they have different hatch times, have a seperate bator set up for hatching) but I have noticed that a few of the eggs seem to have stopped progressing and moving. So I got looking into it more and realize that the turner instructions say to place the small en down. So, now I am curious. Does it litterally mean the smallest tip? I assumed it just meant up and down, and I didnt pay attention to which end of the egg was top or bottom...

Easier question... should the air space in the egg be up or down?

I didn't think the air space was significant until the time of hatching...

 

[maxsgoldens]

The air space must always be at the top. If not it will become damaged or displaced and the egg will not develop properly

 

[NEHorse]

Yikes, thank you! I will go adjust them all right now. Hopefully the remaining live ones will still develop okay.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

X2 the air sac should always be set to the top. So pointy end down and fat end up. Incubating the wrong way around can cause chicks to develop in the wrong position so when it comes to hatch time look out for any that pip at the wrong end of the egg.

Good luck

 

[NEHorse]

Thank you! If they do pip at the wrong end do I need to intervene?

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Sometimes they need help, sometimes they don't. I know that doesn't really answer your question. Hopefully they'll have enough time to reposition themselves and will hatch correctly.

 

[maxsgoldens]

If they pip at the wrong end they will most likely suffocate

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Thank you! If they do pip at the wrong end do I need to intervene?

Here is an excellent article that has a whole section on what action to take if you do have a malpositioned chick https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

Usually a malpositioned chick will do its internal and external pip in one go, so as long as you can see the pip hole it should be ok for oxygen. They usually need more time to be ready to hatch as they have done 2 hatching processes in one go that could usually take upto 48 hours with a normal chick. Time and more time is the key.