Rotten eggs in the incubator?

[LoveDaBirds]

Hey guys, I need help. I'm on day 4 of incubating quail eggs in the incubator. The eggs were given to me so I'm not sure how long they have sat. I placed them in water ( no detergent or scrubbing involved) before setting them and candled for damage to the shells. I noticed a slight smell this evening in the area where the incubator is. How can I tell if I have a rotten egg and which one it is? I don't normally candle again until day 9 ( these are Bobwhites) can I wait that long or should I candle now? I've never had a rotten egg in the incubator before.

 

[JaeG]

If you pick each one up carefully and give it the sniff test that should tell you if there's a bad one in the bunch. That will probably tell you more than candling would.

 

[neo71665]

Smell and ditch. If you can't by smell, ditch the whole bunch. Trust me an egg or eggs going bad in an incubator will almost make you want to throw they whole thing away and I have a cabinet incubator. I've had one pop in there before and it's not pleasant

 

[Nabiki]

FYI, putting them in water is a good way to kill a potential chick. I don't recommend doing that again.

 

[neo71665]

FYI, putting them in water is a good way to kill a potential chick. I don't recommend doing that again.

very well could be the cause of the smell

 

[LoveDaBirds]

FYI, putting them in water is a good way to kill a potential chick. I don't recommend doing that again.

I only put them in briefly to check for floaters but thank you for your concern

 

[Tonyroo]

Don't use water on the shell of fertilized eggs, you remove the bloom and increase contacts of bacteria in the air and your hands.