She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[WVduckchick]

GREAT! Thanks for the warm welcome.

Okay; I got eggs today (Thursday) that were shipped on Monday. There are 14 of them. They all have air cells, natch. Some are smaller than others, though I am told by the breeder that 13 were gathered on Sunday, and one on Monday right before shipping. These are Columbian Rock eggs, which I hope to have as foundation birds for my backyard flock.

Now to questions:

1. The eggs were really well packed, but three are cracked: one slightly, and on the narrow end; one more so with a TINY "breakthrough" into the egg... no moisture, just I can see it when candling; and the last sadly has real breakthrough cracking... and a rolling air cell. I am culling it, I think. I would like to try using fingernail polish to save the other two. Has anyone advice on this? Done it?

2. The majority of eggs (if not all) have what I (a newbie, remember, only on my second hatch) would call "jiggly" air cells. Most of them are on the top of the egg where they belong, but when I tilt them gently, they move a little. But they don't roll. Having read Hatching 101, I'm thinking to let them set in the room for 6 hours and then put them into the 'bator, upright in egg cartons that have th bottoms cut out for ventilation. My question is when to start turning (I'll be turning by hand).

Well, you are in luck. We have lots of experienced shipped-egg hatchers here, although I am not one of them, so I'll defer to them on that part.

I cracked an egg moving it into lockdown and didn't put anything on it, but it didn't hatch. My sister-in-law cracked one at the same time and didn't put anything on it, and it hatched.

I know some have tried fingernail polish, or a dip in warm, melted wax, or rubbed with a candle, or even scotch tape with success, so my opinion is you may as well try whatever you feel comfortable with! None of those things will hurt! I wouldn't throw any of them out without trying any of those methods. What have you got to lose by trying?

Good luck! Others will chime in soon.

 

[WalnutHill]

I would throw out anything that leaks, seeps, or shows staining around the crack.

From my own eggs, I eat any that are cracked or pipped, but with shipped eggs I do seal with nail polish and set. Some have hatched, some not. If they get contaminated before sealing they will go bad during incubation.

 

[Storybook Farm]

I have never dealt with shipped eggs, but many here have, so they can give you better help than I can.
What type of incubator?

Incuview. Here's a pic of my last set:

 

[scflock]

Incuview. Here's a pic of my last set:

Nice EEs That's quite a view in that incubator

 

[WVduckchick]

Nice EEs

That's quite a view in that incubator

x2. Would love to try one of those as a hatcher.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Wanted to know what's going on with an egg I have. Egg is due to hatch March 16. I've had a dramatic air cell dip and I'm seeing what looks like an internal pip but, I believe is the baby squirming inside the internal membrane... Egg is on its side, fat end slightly up. I've boosted the humidity to 55 (I have a staggered hatch) and it's been 40-45 throughout. Stable 99.5°. So is it possible that the baby is pipped, trying to pip (I do hear tapping periodically) shrink wrapped... There's a ton of movement at the bottom of the air cell. Now, big concern, there is a yellow staining at the top of the edge of the air cell. Not a lot and a "healthy " yellow. (No bacterial staining with the off color yellow).
So, long question short. What could be going on? (I have no problem with assisted hatches, can't post pics, this is a duckling egg.... And WV sent me here!!!!)

I've had early, but the only one that early was an accidental internal pipper... while getting into position it sliced the membrane with its egg tooth and opened a huge vein, unfortunately...

How big are you making safe holes? They shouldn't cause shrink wrapping at all...

 

[caesargirl]

I've had early, but the only one that early was an accidental internal pipper... while getting into position it sliced the membrane with its egg tooth and opened a huge vein, unfortunately...

How big are you making safe holes? They shouldn't cause shrink wrapping at all...

I haven't made any yet. I'm not 100%positive there's an internal pip. I kind of feel like it might still be an intact membrane, maybe. But, I've never had a ling have an air cell dip with movement like this at this stage. If I were to make a safety hole this early, I have a dremel bit, thickness of a pencil lead, I would hand spin the hole.

 

[caesargirl]

After typing that, I lit up the egg. There's blood staining now. I'll make a safety hole. See what's up.

 

[Storybook Farm]

Incuview. Here's a pic of my last set:

My first experience was a qualified success. I set 25 eggs; culled 3 at lockdown. Of these 22, half hatched. During eggtopsies, 6 of the 11 that didn't hatch all died at the same stage: right at day 15-16: they were formed, but didn't absorb their yolks. 2 were malpositioned: pipped wrong end. One was an early quitter that I didn't know because of newbie skills with candling, I guess. I figure that it was a problem with humidity being too low for the first week (found that out by weighing) and also the 'bator ran high (all that hatched did so early on Day 20). I'm looking to make adjustments this time around!

Anyways, I am REALLY hoping that I do a better job on my end with these shipped eggs, because 1) I really want this breed/type of bird in my flock and 2) they were expensive. I know that shipped eggs have a typical 50% hatch rate. If I repeat my last performance with this hatch, that would give me half of half: 3-4 birds. As long as I get one cock and one hen grown to maturity, I'm okay with starting small. I just LOVE Columbian Rock coloring, and they are hard to come by as chicks.

Anyways, I'm happy to find this thread/group, and looking forward to some hand holding

 

[Ravynscroft]

I haven't made any yet. I'm not 100%positive there's an internal pip. I kind of feel like it might still be an intact membrane, maybe. But, I've never had a ling have an air cell dip with movement like this at this stage. If I were to make a safety hole this early, I have a dremel bit, thickness of a pencil lead, I would hand spin the hole.

After typing that, I lit up the egg. There's blood staining now. I'll make a safety hole. See what's up.

Oh, crap... that is what happened with mine... yep, open and check... at this point, nothing to lose...