Un-attached aircells

[Redcatcher]

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If they are forming at the large end, then where is the air cell?

These are really LOOOOONG eggs that resemble torpedoes. Even the large end is pointy. They are not normal shaped although nothing really new to me. I have seen (and hatched) eggs like these before. The air cells are pretty small at this stage so there is room for the embryo. I have a couple that have embryos forming at the small end. They are all looking good and I am not seeing anything unusual with the air cells.

Anyway, how is everyone else doing?

 

[MuranoFarms]

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Wow! I have never had any luck with odd shaped eggs. I keep trying though! I just can't resist setting them and giving them a shot at hatching!

I'm down to 2 eggs now. Out of 14, on day 7! I have never had that many just not even start. I did order more silkies from another seller. She sent extras, and the aircells were much better.

 

[Redcatcher]

Quote:
Wow! I have never had any luck with odd shaped eggs. I keep trying though! I just can't resist setting them and giving them a shot at hatching!

I'm down to 2 eggs now. Out of 14, on day 7! I have never had that many just not even start. I did order more silkies from another seller. She sent extras, and the aircells were much better.

I hope those two hang in for you. Are you tossing the others or letting them go for a little longer? All 12 of mine are developing well and I am amazed since two looked scrambled. Bubbles were floating from one end to the other. If I had known you were buying more I would have offered you some of my Silkie eggs for free. I had a group of four Silkies all go broody at the same time but his one hen evidently does not know she is supposed to go broody. She has been laying an egg a day for two months and I am either going to have to start eating them or tossing them.

 

[MuranoFarms]

I let them go another day, but tossed them on day 8. I've never had anything start that late....even ducks and guineas have development by then! I'm glad to hear that yours are doing well. When are they due to hatch?

Silly birds! Mine are like that too.....always going broody when you don't want them to, and not going broody when you do want them too! lol Especially my guineas. My bator will be full for about a week, but I do appreciate the offer. You should list them on the 24 hour crazy egg auction thread. I'd hate to see them go in the trash.

 

[Redcatcher]

Well I just lost three eggs. I candled them and they had blood rings. I expect to lose more. This is when the messy air cells begins to interfere with the development of the chicks. Mine are due to hatch on the 28th. I think we set our eggs at the same time. I am wondering if I just left them with the large end up, and did not turn them, if they would stand a better chance. I have them in the carton resting at a slight angle and "turn" them from left and right as if I am turning a light switch on and off. I am incubating my own Silkie eggs along with the ones I bought. Mostly I am wanting the hens to brood the hatched chicks in a big group. I will have to check out the 24 hour crazy egg auction thread.

 

[MuranoFarms]

Awwww, that stinks! I have mine in a turner which sort of 'rocks' them left to right. I wouldn't lay them on their sides with messed up aircells. I think if you didn't turn them the chicks wouldn't develop right. I've never tried it though. You could always set them upright in a carton and tilt the incubator instead.

Last night I tried to candle a few of the new silkie eggs. They're only on day 3 but sometimes I can see veining by then. I put my thumb through an egg!!!! I have held hundreds, maybe thousands of eggs and NEVER put a hole in an egg just by picking it up! It was pretty well smooshed so I broke it open to take a look and it didn't look like anything was even starting. It fell apart when I tried to open it though. I have never seen a shell this thin before! While it's probably easier for the chick to get out it gives me a lot of concern for the parent flocks diet!

I just can't win!

 

[Redcatcher]

I did some research and found out that if you only turn the eggs between the 4th and 7th day of incubation, the hatch rate is almost the same as if you turned them throughout the incubation. In light of that, I am not going to touch them until hatch day. I will still turn the normal eggs as usual but these others are high risk.

SUMMARY
1. Turning hens' eggs between the 4th and 7th day of incubation gives a
hatchability similar to that of eggs turned throughout incubation.
2. Turning the eggs between the 8th and 11th day gives a hatchability similar
to that of unturned eggs.


Maybe that egg that poked through had a stress crack in it that did not show. Hopefully, anyway, since you would not want to be incubating eggs with shells so thin that they self destruct.

 

[Megs]

interesting read, i have some eggs (will have to count) that were shipped and some have mis-shaped air cells (oblong), so far all are developing, hopefully they make it, i will post my results with these eggs when they hatch next week (not not)

 

[Redcatcher]

Roll call... The 28th is coming up fast. Who is still with us? I lost another egg for certain, and couple more are questionable since a couple of days ago. Even with the large end pointing up, the air cells are loose, enlarged and not where they should be. I should get a couple of chicks out of 13 though. I stopped turning altogether since the insides are so sloppy, it will likely do more harm than good to turn them.

 

[MuranoFarms]

I go into lockdown tomorrow night with 2. I just candled though and they seem to be a few days behind, but they're still moving!

Are you using a carton to hatch? I probably will.