Shipped eggs nearing hatch date, a couple of questions.

[Sussex19]

My shipped eggs are on day 16, and I've got a couple of questions.
About two thirds of them have saddled air cells, how much of a problem is this? I think most of them seem to have improved a bit, but can they even hatch?
They should go into lockdown on the 18th day, right? And I should raise the humidity to around 80%?
Its my first time incubating eggs, and I'm pretty nervous about it, so advise is appreciated! (I usually leave it to the hens, but do candle them, so am fairly familiar with that part of it.)

 

[WIchickMama]

I don't do shipped eggs but all 3 that I just had hatch under a broody had saddled air cells and all hatched. One needed some assistance.

Good luck!

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

My shipped eggs are on day 16, and I've got a couple of questions.
About two thirds of them have saddled air cells, how much of a problem is this? I think most of them seem to have improved a bit, but can they even hatch?
They should go into lockdown on the 18th day, right? And I should raise the humidity to around 80%?
Its my first time incubating eggs, and I'm pretty nervous about it, so advise is appreciated! (I usually leave it to the hens, but do candle them, so am fairly familiar with that part of it.)

Day 18 is correct. 80% is a very high humidity, try 60-65%. I've hatched quail from saddled air cells and they were fine no issues, but my hatch rate was lower than usual.

Good luck!

 

[RainbowRabbits]

There's a great guide on here for hatching shipped eggs if you decide to try doing this again (I can try to find it, but I forgot what it's called). Generally it's recommended to leave the eggs to settle for 24 hrs so they get to be room temperature/outside of the incubator.

Then you put them in the incubator fat side up and don't turn them for 2-3 days. After that you turn them 45 degrees (with the fat side facing up) multiple times a day. I think this helps fix the air sacs from getting dislodged while shipping.

Then by day 15 or 16 (I forgot the exact day/I need to look it up again); the air cell becomes stuck in place) and the eggs can be laid on the side and turned normally. I followed this guide with my last hatch and got a 50% hatch rate.



Just something to think about for those looking to hatch shipped eggs!

 

[Sussex19]

Day 18 is correct. 80% is a very high humidity, try 60-65%. I've hatched quail from saddled air cells and they were fine no issues, but my hatch rate was lower than usual.

Good luck!

Thank you!
I was thinking that I might have got the humidity wrong, so I'll do that.

 

[Sussex19]

There's a great guide on here for hatching shipped eggs if you decide to try doing this again (I can try to find it, but I forgot what it's called). Generally it's recommended to leave the eggs to settle for 24 hrs so they get to be room temperature/outside of the incubator.

Then you put them in the incubator fat side up and don't turn them for 2-3 days. After that you turn them 45 degrees (with the fat side facing up) multiple times a day. I think this helps fix the air sacs from getting dislodged while shipping.

Then by day 15 or 16 (I forgot the exact day/I need to look it up again); the air cell becomes stuck in place) and the eggs can be laid on the side and turned normally. I followed this guide with my last hatch and got a 50% hatch rate.



Just something to think about for those looking to hatch shipped eggs!

Thank you for this!
I did do quite a bit of reading, and asked a couple of questions, so I think I did the best I could with this lot. Next time, I will probably do better.

 

[Sussex19]

I don't do shipped eggs but all 3 that I just had hatch under a broody had saddled air cells and all hatched. One needed some assistance.

Good luck!

Thats good to know!
Out of 12 eggs, 9 have developed, so I'm hoping at least a few will hatch.

 

[Sussex19]

When they get to lockdown, should I lower the temp? If so, what temp is good?
I've read a couple of conflicting opinions on this.