THE PLOT THICKENS....Unplanned Staggered Hatch- Advice Needed!

[MommaBee]

I am north of there but my son lives and works in Wenatchee.

My family members are orchardists there. In the Stamilt? Area. Just curious! Small world.

 

[MommaBee]

I've turned mine until pip on staggered hatches and had no problem with them last year. This year I was lucky enough to set my eggs at the same time as I have more laying hens now. The only reason I staggered last year was the fact I only had one hen laying. I hatched about 30 chicks from her staggered and they are doing fine and some are laying already.

That's awesome! You are so lucky you can get them from your own backyard. After this shipping nightmare we might just have to keep a Roo, if any hatch at all. Just so we won't have to deal with this again. The sellers have been great but the postal service... Not so much!

 

[MommaBee]

QUESTION:

So some of the barnyard mixes that are set to hatch on the 29th have very very odd shaped air cells. Looks like saddle shaped ones and some with strange dips. I know this happens with shipped eggs but what problems can it cause if they hatch?


AND UPDATE:
OK, so I candled the 2nd incubator tonight and the ones we found at the PO (at least 10 days old) had at least 4 with growth going on inside!!!

I am so surprised I could see anything at all with them being olive eggers and it just being day 4. Maybe after candling 91 eggs many times over the last few week has finally taught me what to look for. I am shocked and in awe, nature is so amazing and resilient.

 

[Irishgirl]

Yay, good for you! You may be able to fix the air cell problem by setting them fat end up in a egg carton. I don't think it will cause problems with the chicks, if you keep them in the carton for the hatch they'll probably be fine.