Tis Time for a March 2020 Hatch-a-long!

[julskinka]

Update: first 14 shipped eggs only one developing. On blood ring rest nothing.... . Second batch of shipped to be continued.......... will candle Saturday...


Question when do you throw out possible no development eggs.. I am sure they are not developing but don’t want to risk throwing out an egg that may not be showing but is still ok... I am 90 percent sure all but the one is bad but want to make sure so I would like to wait until day 14 but I am also scared of one to blow up. Nothin smells or is seeping at this point...

So when does everyone make that decision?

That's a bummer! As others have said, depends on the egg. It also helps if you have others that are successfully developing so you can compare. But by day 7 for white eggs for sure, and usually around day 10 or so I can be sure on dark eggs. (If there's no dark/light delineation or if you still see light at the bottom of the egg when shining down from the air cell.)

I think clears aren't really the problem, it's quitters that might have a build up of bacteria that are, no? And it's a little trickier to call those than clears.

Although FWIW I've never had an issue with a smelly egg. I don't think you need to take them out that fast; I just can't abide the clutter and chaos of unnecessary eggs in my incubator. I might want that space for someone else!

 

[julskinka]

The chick is growing right on top where the air cell should be. I was like where the heck is the air cell? Looked around and found it on the side. So weird. They weren't shipped. I just drove the my friend's house in the same town.

Mine was a local egg too. It must just happen!

 

[julskinka]

If there is movement, they are fine. When a chick dies, the veins recede, turn brown, or the blood pools in a spot. You'd know it when you see it.

When it's a quitter, the "movement" you see is just a sloshing from the way you move the egg, and not independent movement. But do be careful - sometimes they sleep or go still. Unless there are obvious signs (it's a white egg and you can see the vasculature has disintegrated, for example) better to wait until there's an obvious discrepancy in development between your maybe-quitter and the definitely-kicking eggs. You don't want the feeling of cracking open an egg with a live embryo.

 

[julskinka]

They MIGHT be the reason I fell in love with emus lol

I’m not sure they’re far along enough to do that test. I believe it should show results after 32 days? I’ll have to read to make sure. The issue currently is a rotten emu egg in the bunch and can’t tell by sniffing them which one it is. I want to get it out of there, but what if I mess up my sniffing and break open a viable baby

Is there some kind of palate cleanser you could sniff in between checking each egg? And sniff them well clear of the incubator?

 

[gmjarvi]

I just candled all of them. Their air cells aren’t the size of the Day 14 drawing template thing, but they’re a good bit larger than they were a few days ago. So the low humidity is working. Will be leaving it low until Day 18 and go from there.

Gonna try my best to leave them alone for 4 days with the exception of moving them around the incubator to get different spots in the egg turner.

All chicks were moving (I couldn’t see through a couple olive eggs but I’m confident they’re good). It’s so exciting how you can see a beak now!! I was like woah! I wanted to take pictures but it was hard to hold a flashlight plus an egg not to mentioned trying to take a decent picture without dropping something so I’ll be happy with the memories in my brain.

I borrowed my husband's phone to take pictures since the phone flashlights are better than my candler. Set the phone face down on the counter with the light on and held the egg on it and took pictures with the other phone. He was like....why? at least you guys get it.

 

[Jules929]

I agee. I will pull a smelly or seeping egg immediately. Otherwise I don't pull an egg before D10 unless I see a blood ring. I do believe for an egg to explode bacteria is present, causing internal pressure to build as the population grows. It takes a while and should create a smell and/or seeping well before it explodes.

 

[gmjarvi]

Is there some kind of palate cleanser you could sniff in between checking each egg? And sniff them well clear of the incubator?

I think in candle stores they put coffee beans out for "palate cleansing" ...maybe worth a shot?

 

[FortCluck]

Hysop here is an egg candling chart. It shows development from day 0 and I found it very helpful when I first started hatching. I hope you find it interesting.
May I ask why you're moving the eggs to different cups in your turner? I'm just curious.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ion-through-incubation-of-chicken-eggs.47879/

I move my eggs too because they get different temps when moved. Incubators aren't all the same temp at every inch, which I learned when I put thermometers in different areas. Moving eggs gives them a chance to get equal time in different temps. I have better hatches moving them to different areas

 

[Jules929]

Is there some kind of palate cleanser you could sniff in between checking each egg? And sniff them well clear of the incubator?

I participate in a sensory panel at work to taste and/or smell a product for quality control. We wear a lab coat and take a long smell of the sleeve in between samples for that purpose.

 

[FortCluck]

I participate in a sensory panel at work to taste and/or smell a product for quality control. We wear a lab coat and take a long smell of the sleeve in between samples for that purpose.

I wish I worked in the factory that makes sour patch kids. They could pay me in them and I wouldn't complain. I'd eat them for free