Question on hatching - unknown length of prior incubation

[dhomestead]

Long time reader, first time poster.

Last weekend, my neighbor asked me to help him move some steers. And when we were moving them, they happened to trample an unseen hen under a pile of hay. Turns out she was sitting on 7 eggs. So he gave them to me to take home and hatch. I was going to use a make shift homemade incubator in a styrofoam cooler but after a day and a half I couldn't get the humidity close to being right, so I went out and purchased a Little Giant incubator. Here's my question. Since I don't know how long the hen was sitting on the eggs, how do I tell when to turn off the automatic egg turner. The one egg that was cracked, I cracked it in the frying pan and scrambled for my chickens. I could not see a blastoma in it or anything else. I did then candle the other eggs and it appears that 5 of the 6 have a "small floating" blob so I think they're viable. I'm thinking that I have to keep candling them and see when they reach a certain stage and then I can turn it off. Any links to candling stages? Thanks if advance for any help for the experts!

Rich in Central PA

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Pictures of the candling? We can help you out there.

 

[dhomestead]

I'll get help taking photos and post tomorrow. Thanks.

 

[dhomestead]

Pictures of the candling? We can help you out there.

Ok, Here are 6 pictures of 3 of the eggs. The 1st three are of one egg. It appears to have a small dark moving spot. Egg 2 is the 4th photo and I don't think it's viable. Egg 3 are the last 2 photos (although one is hard to see with the glare). I think it also has a small moving dark blob. I've had them for 5-6 days now, I think the eggs are from a bantam breed as they are smaller than the eggs my Barred Rocks lay.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Egg 3 is dead, and I also think egg 2 is. The eggs look rather newly incubated, actually. @MysteryChicken @MGG

 

[Kiki]

Turn off the room lights and take pictures in the dark, please.

 

[dhomestead]

Turn off the room lights and take pictures in the dark, please.

Sorry, it was daytime. I'll try again this weekend, in the evening.

 

[dhomestead]

JACLOH - I think you were right - newly incubated. I had assumed the chicken was sitting on the eggs and she may have just been trying to lay one in that nest.

Also, here are 2 more recent pics. They're hard to see on here, but one has veins in it, the other has a line across it. 5 of the 6 eggs now have veins so I think 5 of 6 are viable. The one with the line (possibly a "bloodline"?) I'll be removing this weekend if I don't see any veins at the next candling.

I'm expecting the eggs to hatch the 1st weekend in May and turning off the egg turner next Wednesday. I will post results for those that may be interested. Thanks all for your help!