My Cream Legbar eggs are eight days into incubation. They've been on an egg turner the entire time.
Last night I candled and realized that, of the six I started with, three appeared to be developing nicely. Then I held them up to my brighter candling contraption and realized that two of these developing eggs do not have a fixed air cell... it just seems to orient itself toward the highest point in the egg, behaving as a good little bubble should... but not like a good little air cell ought to.
The eggs were pretty pricey and I *really* want to get a few of these (a male/female pair, would be awesome!
). I am confidant that the bad air cells are due to shipping and handling -- not some genetic failing that some might say would be best culled -- so I am willing to go to some lengths to see them through to hatching.
So, I am really needing advice on how to see these babies through.. Should I take them off the turner and switch them to a slightly more upright, less frequent, hand turning schedule? I have seen some people suggesting leaving them still, in a vertical position -- not sure if this will actually heal the air cell, or if it might simply keep the chick oriented in such a way that there will at least be some vacant space there?
For others who have attempted to salvage eggs in this situation, was there a specific time during incubation or hatch when the chicks seemed to be struggling and/or dying off? I ask, because I am wondering if I should plan to intervene early with these and maybe draw some excess fluid out with a syringe, find their beaks and ensure a clear airway, then gradually work them through an assisted hatch (assuming my removal of fluid would dry things out to a point that things will be too sticky for a chick to free itself).
All of this is just me hoping they even make it far enough for hatch to be a concern!
Would love input from guessers and experts alike on this. Any info -- stories of your successes and failures with this -- could be helpful. You peeps rock!
Last night I candled and realized that, of the six I started with, three appeared to be developing nicely. Then I held them up to my brighter candling contraption and realized that two of these developing eggs do not have a fixed air cell... it just seems to orient itself toward the highest point in the egg, behaving as a good little bubble should... but not like a good little air cell ought to.
The eggs were pretty pricey and I *really* want to get a few of these (a male/female pair, would be awesome!
So, I am really needing advice on how to see these babies through.. Should I take them off the turner and switch them to a slightly more upright, less frequent, hand turning schedule? I have seen some people suggesting leaving them still, in a vertical position -- not sure if this will actually heal the air cell, or if it might simply keep the chick oriented in such a way that there will at least be some vacant space there?
For others who have attempted to salvage eggs in this situation, was there a specific time during incubation or hatch when the chicks seemed to be struggling and/or dying off? I ask, because I am wondering if I should plan to intervene early with these and maybe draw some excess fluid out with a syringe, find their beaks and ensure a clear airway, then gradually work them through an assisted hatch (assuming my removal of fluid would dry things out to a point that things will be too sticky for a chick to free itself).
All of this is just me hoping they even make it far enough for hatch to be a concern!
Would love input from guessers and experts alike on this. Any info -- stories of your successes and failures with this -- could be helpful. You peeps rock!
