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

[caesargirl]

Hated doing it, but... Opened the egg, dime sized hole. There was a tiny hole in the membrane, bloody. Got the bleeding stopped. He's peeping away. We'll see how this frickin goes. First duckling of the year and he pulls this crap!!!!

 

[Ravynscroft]

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).

I agree with Walnut, do not set any seepers... if there is any discoloration around the crack that's seepage...

I've set a just barely cracked shipped egg and had it hatch, but membrane was never compromised... go with your gut...

Honestly, I have never gotten a full roller to develop, much less hatch... if you have the space and it's not seeping you can try it, just don't get your hopes up for it...

Let them settle a min of 6 hrs, if they're really fresh, 24... and jiggly is spot on description of those air cells... I only leave them no more than 24 hrs before at least gently tilting 3x per day after that... longer of no turning seems to cause more damage than help... just my opinion though... go with what feels best for you...

 

[WVduckchick]

Hated doing it, but... Opened the egg, dime sized hole. There was a tiny hole in the membrane, bloody. Got the bleeding stopped. He's peeping away. We'll see how this frickin goes. First duckling of the year and he pulls this crap!!!!

 

[Ravynscroft]

Hated doing it, but... Opened the egg, dime sized hole. There was a tiny hole in the membrane, bloody. Got the bleeding stopped. He's peeping away. We'll see how this frickin goes. First duckling of the year and he pulls this crap!!!!

Good call... if it's that open, then after a bit of rest I would go ahead and carefully chip off the shell all around the air cell only... lube up the membrane real well and make sure the nares are clear of the edges of the membrane...

And then wait... this early it probably has a big yolk sac still to absorb... when ready, it'll let you know... hang in there, I had a Call sit like that for 3 days and she popped out just fine when she was ready... she's a happy, healthy duck with growing babies of her own now...

 

[FridayYet]

Because my last batch had a pretty high percentage of very loose cells, I let them sit upright in the egg carton until the next morning, then put them in the incubator for 24 hours without turning, then turned on the cradle day 3. The Brinsea turn so slowly, continuously, so I was comfortable with that.

In your case, Storybook Farm, I'd put them on the incubator in cut-down egg cartons and tilt them side to side at least 3 times a day. When you candle on day 7, you can put any eggs lying down if you want. (If the air cells are not moving any more.) Other leave them in cartons the whole time.

No matter what you so, shipped eggs may have invisible damage that hinders good development of the CAM leading to a higher percentage of late deaths during lockdown.

Good luck with your hatch!

 

[FridayYet]

Good call... if it's that open, then after a bit of rest I would go ahead and carefully chip off the shell all around the air cell only... lube up the membrane real well and make sure the nares are clear of the edges of the membrane...

And then wait... this early it probably has a big yolk sac still to absorb... when ready, it'll let you know... hang in there, I had a Call sit like that for 3 days and she popped out just fine when she was ready... she's a happy, healthy duck with growing babies of her own now...

And still has a bit of attitude, I see! (LOL)

 

[caesargirl]

Hmmmm, well, there's a LOT less veining in the membrane than I would have expected...

 

[caesargirl]

LouLou my house duck took 5 days in an open egg....
I've never set perfect eggs in perfect condition. Usually the bator is for abandoned or damaged nests. This was the first time I had set from the beginning. So, every single hatch, assisted. (I like the punishment!) I was hoping for easy , with this batch....

 

[AmyLynn2374]

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!!!!)

that doesn't sound good.

Welcome to the thread!!!

Hi,

I'm on my second hatch, and first one with shipped eggs. I have a few questions for more experienced people. Is this the best place to post them, or should I start a separate hatch thread?

Welcome to the thread!!! Ask away.

This is a great place

xs 2 or 3.....

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

Still love that bator!

Nice EEs

That's quite a view in that incubator

That's what I said on her other thread. lol It's nice!

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

I was thinking the same thing.

LouLou my house duck took 5 days in an open egg....
I've never set perfect eggs in perfect condition. Usually the bator is for abandoned or damaged nests. This was the first time I had set from the beginning. So, every single hatch, assisted. (I like the punishment!) I was hoping for easy , with this batch....

Easy?? What's that??


Ok, so I joined the party late..sue me. We had dentist appointments. Now we have school....lol

 

[Storybook Farm]

Because my last batch had a pretty high percentage of very loose cells, I let them sit upright in the egg carton until the next morning, then put them in the incubator for 24 hours without turning, then turned on the cradle day 3.

In your case, Storybook Farm, I'd put them on the incubator in cut-down egg cartons and tilt them side to side at least 3 times a day. When you candle on day 7, you can put any eggs lying down if you want. (If the air cells are not moving any more.) Other leave them in cartons the whole time.

No matter what you so, shipped eggs may have invisible damage that hinders good development of the CAM leading to a higher percentage of late deaths during lockdown.

Good luck with your hatch!

Are you saying (sorry, the typo "...on the incubator" is confusing me... if it is a typo) that you would REST them outside the 'bator until tomorrow AM (as you did), and then put them into the incubator and start turning THEN (as in tomorrow morning)? Or are you suggesting resting until tomorrow AM and then incubating tomorrow and then turning after 24 hours?

I plan to turn by hand and have them in cartons that whole incubation: we'll see about lockdown when we come to that point.