Unknown egg!

[Helenbee]

Hi everybody,
We are a first time incubating and hopefully hatching family! We have collected 5 Hen eggs from a local farm. As we were getting into the car my daughters found a muddy egg by the side of the farm track- seemed abandoned, but was warm. So... perhaps foolishly, we put it into the 7th spot in the incubator...

So, 3 days on, and me having very much enjoyed getting up to speed on incubating eggs... I am now doubting putting in the 7th egg, as we don’t know if it is a hen or duck, and we don’t know when it was laid... and it was muddy (I washed it in warm water).

I’ve candles it a couple of times (see pictures) and would love more experienced eyes on it and some advice now we have committed to the little thing!!
We think we see changes that are in line with development, but
The first picture is the day we picked it up and the second two today (3 days on).

 

[snood dude]

Hi everybody,
We are a first time incubating and hopefully hatching family! We have collected 5 Hen eggs from a local farm. As we were getting into the car my daughters found a muddy egg by the side of the farm track- seemed abandoned, but was warm. So... perhaps foolishly, we put it into the 7th spot in the incubator...

So, 3 days on, and me having very much enjoyed getting up to speed on incubating eggs... I am now doubting putting in the 7th egg, as we don’t know if it is a hen or duck, and we don’t know when it was laid... and it was muddy (I washed it in warm water).

I’ve candles it a couple of times (see pictures) and would love more experienced eyes on it and some advice now we have committed to the little thing!!
We think we see changes that are in line with development, but
The first picture is the day we picked it up and the second two today (3 days on).

You should not have washed it. That took of the natural bloom which protects the egg from bacteria.

 

[Helenbee]

You should not have washed it. That took of the natural bloom which protects the egg from bacteria.

Yes I have been thinking this too. I did read a bit about it and it was very muddy, so there was some advice that a wash in warm water would be better than the mud. I’m still not sure.

 

[snood dude]

Yes I have been thinking this too. I did read a bit about it and it was very muddy, so there was some advice that a wash in warm water would be better than the mud. I’m still not sure.

Did you use soap or just water.

 

[getaclue]

I like to wait until around day 5 - 7 to candle for the first time. Day 3 is a bit too soon to find development in some cases.

 

[Helenbee]

Did you use soap or just water.

Just water

 

[Helenbee]

I like to wait until around day 5 - 7 to candle for the first time. Day 3 is a bit too soon to find development in some cases.

Sounds like good advice. I think I’m just being a bit impatient!

 

[snood dude]

Just water

You might be okay I had a friend who washed quail eggs and they hatched so I am guessing that washing an egg just reduce hatch rate but like getaclue said wait till day seven to candle.

 

[Helenbee]

You might be okay I had a friend who washed quail eggs and they hatched so I am guessing that washing an egg just reduce hatch rate but like getaclue said wait till day seven to candle.

Ok fingers crossed! Thankyou

 

[getaclue]

Rinsing an egg is fine, when it goes straight into the incubator. Sometimes it's necessary to rinse one. It's best not to rinse more than needed.