Slightly dirty egg - incubation

[newchickychick]

Hi all! My first eggs got here! Facing two tiny hiccups.

One: the egg is a little dirty. I’ve read to not incubate dirty eggs and to not wash them to clean up before incubation. How dirty is too dirty? This was the extra sent with my batch of 12, bringing us up to 13. The other eggs were all very clean, outside of one VERY tiny barely noticeable dirt smudge, but not “these were washed” clean so it was easier to pick this one out of the batch and be worried. (Hands were freshly washed and dried prior to all egg handling!)

Two: My other eggs haven’t arrived yet. They MAY arrive Monday. Key word being MAY. I don’t know if USPS messed up and missed a scan or not, but they’re not here today so I assume they will not be here tomorrow as such but have been in the same spot for 2 days. So maybe not even Monday. These are our first shipped eggs - how much will I be hurting our hatch rate to wait until Monday just in case the others arrive then? I presume or hope these were collected shortly before shipping Tuesday, but of course I’m not sure at all. I’m worried about a staggered hatch. We DO have two incubators, but we’re hoping to use the other ones in case we get eggs shipped on the 7th as Cackle’s email SEEMS to elude to, which would probably mean they’d get here between the 9th and 11th probably. So preferably not using the second is best option, but if we put those in Monday and these tomorrow evening, would it be too hard to manage lockdown with the day’s difference? (Would probably end up more like 12 hours difference of time between putting them in, so a total of 24 hours, if all went well but still) All thoughts and advice appreciated on what you think would be the best way to go about this!

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

I hatch a lot of both my own, and shipped eggs many times, all staggered. If you can't keep that one incubator free for hatching, and need it to be an incubator, then I'd not try staggering. Those who reach lockdown need the turner shut off and humidity jacked up to 70%. Not turning isn't much of an issue when their into their third week, but the humidity could be. If it's just a day or two in between, I hold them. If not, I hold the new ones so there are five days in between eggs I've set.

I'd just use your fingernail or plastic spoon or something that has a little give and try to pick off any chunks, then just put that one on an end. I've hatch several nasty looking ones and never had an issue. When those hatch, I sneak their eggshell out of the incubator, though.

 

[newchickychick]

Hi,

I hatch a lot of both my own, and shipped eggs many times, all staggered. If you can't keep that one incubator free for hatching, and need it to be an incubator, then I'd not try staggering. Those who reach lockdown need the turner shut off and humidity jacked up to 70%. Not turning isn't much of an issue when their into their third week, but the humidity could be. If it's just a day or two in between, I hold them. If not, I hold the new ones so there are five days in between eggs I've set.

I'd just use your fingernail or plastic spoon or something that has a little give and try to pick off any chunks, then just put that one on an end. I've hatch several nasty looking ones and never had an issue. When those hatch, I sneak their eggshell out of the incubator, though.

Thank you so much! My biggest fear is if they don’t show up Monday. Darn USPS! (I know it happens) I’ll keep these resting until the others get here. That really gives me a peace of mind! I was worried it would be too long after potential gathering if it was about a week at that point. I’ll admit I haven’t looked too deeply into how long fertilized eggs can sit before being incubated.

That helps a ton! Good time to have my nails a little long. I can probably separate it on an end by a rubber band, maybe cutting some straws for individual little dividers. I’ll give it a try!

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you so much! My biggest fear is if they don’t show up Monday. Darn USPS! (I know it happens) I’ll keep these resting until the others get here. That really gives me a peace of mind! I was worried it would be too long after potential gathering if it was about a week at that point. I’ll admit I haven’t looked too deeply into how long fertilized eggs can sit before being incubated.

That helps a ton! Good time to have my nails a little long. I can probably separate it on an end by a rubber band, maybe cutting some straws for individual little dividers. I’ll give it a try!

I swear the WI USPS distribution center that's used for my outgoing and incoming eggs is the Bermuda Triangle. Stuff goes in and falls off the tracking, then two days later, voila, it's on the doorstep.

The last shipment I got Thursday, was shipped Monday and she used UPS. I've never gotten eggs shipped via UPS before, so I'm optimistic to see a better hatch rate.

Wishing you a great hatch(s)!

 

[newchickychick]

I swear the WI USPS distribution center that's used for my outgoing and incoming eggs is the Bermuda Triangle. Stuff goes in and falls off the tracking, then two days later, voila, it's on the doorstep.

The last shipment I got Thursday, was shipped Monday and she used UPS. I've never gotten eggs shipped via UPS before, so I'm optimistic to see a better hatch rate.

Wishing you a great hatch(s)!

Hahaha, that sounds exactly right! Normally we have things not update and voila, it’s here! Really praying they show up Monday. I would love to do my first Hatch Along for my first ever egg incubation.

Same to you! It’s so exciting getting them in. I think I see more incubators in my future. (Sorry not sorry, hubby )

 

[SnackMeat]

Assuming you are using a horizontal turning incubator:

Because you are dealing with shipped eggs, which will affect initial incubation growth and not just later hatch rate, and also because of the detached air bubbles, I would remove the tray and turning tray, and turn off the turner. Then I would fill the bottom with sand or something that could hold eggs vertically. Even better if you put the medium in the oven for a short while to kill off any germs. Allow to slightly cool, then put in to incubator and start preheating incubator. Whatever humidity you want it set at, set a small shallow container in the center. A medicine bottle cap, a small jar lid, a short Tupperware. The wider the surface area the more humidity. The less surface area the less humidity. Also factor in keeping the air vent as open as much as possible while maintaining the humidity you want so the eggs have enough oxygen.

Then I would vertically incubate the eggs, at least in the beginning.

1. Keep the air bubble at the top. You'll have to always have them slightly tilted upward but it depends. I've only had a few detached or partially detached ones (judging by the little telltale squiggle and slightly different color where the membrane is detached.)

2. Candle with a flashlight so the fat end always stays upright versus the incubator candlers where you have to invert the egg.

3. You'll like have 20% or more that are infertile, and then an extra amount that quit in those early days. At that point, you'll probably be able to resume your horizontal incubation plans or you can continue with your vertical hatching, leaning the eggs by hand 45* or less in different directions.



I have to wonder if, should you start the eggs today, then Monday's on Monday or Tuesday, and then Cackle's next weekend if you'll have today and Monday's infertile eggs out of the way by the time cackle's arrives. Then put today's eggs and the smallest of Mondays eggs in one brooder (since it seems that smaller eggs hatch faster and bigger eggs slower.) any overflow+ cackle for the second brooder.

Cackle will have infertiles and failures, and simply because shipped hatching eggs have issues you'll probably have additional later failures in today and Monday's eggs, beyond what you remove in the first week. When you start actually hatching you may be down to one incubator 's worth, or 1.5 worth so those hatching can have their own pip and zip chamber.



You can absolutely wait. I wouldn't only because shipped eggs already have an issue of freshness and then shipping trauma. I would want them to get to incubation temp as quickly as possible. It probably won't be a huge issue if you wait, but I would always wonder how much it affected hatch rate, what with ten days or less being ideal. Those two days (or slightly less) would have to have some effect, or so it would seem. But I've only just started incubating shipped eggs for the first time versus local, so this is just based on reading and opinion.

 

[newchickychick]

Assuming you are using a horizontal turning incubator:

Because you are dealing with shipped eggs, which will affect initial incubation growth and not just later hatch rate, and also because of the detached air bubbles, I would remove the tray and turning tray, and turn off the turner. Then I would fill the bottom with sand or something that could hold eggs vertically. Even better if you put the medium in the oven for a short while to kill off any germs. Allow to slightly cool, then put in to incubator and start preheating incubator. Whatever humidity you want it set at, set a small shallow container in the center. A medicine bottle cap, a small jar lid, a short Tupperware. The wider the surface area the more humidity. The less surface area the less humidity. Also factor in keeping the air vent as open as much as possible while maintaining the humidity you want so the eggs have enough oxygen.

Then I would vertically incubate the eggs, at least in the beginning.

1. Keep the air bubble at the top. You'll have to always have them slightly tilted upward but it depends. I've only had a few detached or partially detached ones (judging by the little telltale squiggle and slightly different color where the membrane is detached.)

2. Candle with a flashlight so the fat end always stays upright versus the incubator candlers where you have to invert the egg.

3. You'll like have 20% or more that are infertile, and then an extra amount that quit in those early days. At that point, you'll probably be able to resume your horizontal incubation plans or you can continue with your vertical hatching, leaning the eggs by hand 45* or less in different directions.



I have to wonder if, should you start the eggs today, then Monday's on Monday or Tuesday, and then Cackle's next weekend if you'll have today and Monday's infertile eggs out of the way by the time cackle's arrives. Then put today's eggs and the smallest of Mondays eggs in one brooder (since it seems that smaller eggs hatch faster and bigger eggs slower.) any overflow+ cackle for the second brooder.

Cackle will have infertiles and failures, and simply because shipped hatching eggs have issues you'll probably have more failures in today and Monday's eggs. When you start actually hatching you may be down to one incubator 's worth, or 1.5 worth so those hatching can have their own pip and zip chamber.



You can absolutely wait. I wouldn't only because shipped eggs already have an issue of freshness and then shipping trauma. I would want them to get to incubation temp as quickly as possible. It probably won't be a huge issue if you wait, but I would always wonder how much it affected hatch rate, what with ten days or less being ideal. Those two days (or slightly less) would have to have some effect, or so it would seem. But I've only just started incubating shipped eggs for the first time versus local, so this is just based on reading and opinion.

I forgot to mention, our incubators are Maticoopx30s so the turning is vertical. I was planning to vertically incubate and carefully put them on their sides for hatching when it hits 18 and then go into lockdown.

I had forgotten we would potentially be moving others out for clears and blood rings too! I know if we hatch any, it will probably be a low rate from shipping. I like the idea of the overflow+ cackle potential too! Definitely so much food for thought. I know it’s a no no to open during lockdown if at all possible and some can hatch earlier or later than day 21 so I’m trying to figure out how to make it most smooth. I think I’ll definitely go ahead and start Monday if the others aren’t here by then. Or, would it be bad to put these in early Monday morning and open again to add the others Monday evening if they do arrive then? I would be as quick as possible, and we are dry hatching so hopefully the humidity wouldn’t crash and burn for a minute of the lid off.

 

[SnackMeat]

Shrink wrapping has been much less of an issue than my fears of shrink wrapping. Not to say that's everyone's experience, but there's definitely ways to boost humidity in the room before opening the incubator if you want to hedge your bets

Hopefully you update with your fertility % and hatch rate. Good luck!

 

[newchickychick]

Shrink wrapping has been much less of an issue than my fears of shrink wrapping. Not to say that's everyone's experience, but there's definitely ways to boost humidity in the room before opening the incubator if you want to hedge your bets

Hopefully you update with your fertility % and hatch rate. Good luck!

That’s really clever! I can definitely add a bit of water before we open it if that ends up the case. We will just do our best. Thanks for the advice! I definitely will. We will see 1/19 hatching as a complete victory for our first hatch. I suppose that’s the great thing about just starting - 0 expectations so we can only be pleasantly surprised.