Update: Toss or KEEP (nevermind go on and read this though :)

[Nicola]

lol

 

[got2bskilled]

I might be wrong.... and you might not want to do this with the eggs- but bad eggs float in water and good eggs sink. It has something to do with gas forming in the egg. I would try it with warm water if you do it... and a shallow bowl with a face towel at the bottom to cushion the little eggs that sink. I do this with eggs I plan on eating.

 

[Nicola]

Quote:
wouldnt that drown the chick cause they are pourus wouldnt the water get into the egg?

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Goodness, the bad advice is just crawling out of the woodwork on this thread!!! Don't put hatching eggs in water, don't ever shake hatching eggs!!!! These puppies are FRAGILE!!!! Seriously! Shaking breaks veins which kills chicks. Soaking in water removes the bloom (the natural coating on the outside) which allows bacteria to enter the egg. Placing an egg in water simply shows if an egg you are going to eat is older.

Good luck with the rest of the babies!!!

 

[dancingbear]

With incubated eggs, (whether in a 'bator or under a hen) a good deal of the moisture in the egg evaporates. If it didn't the chicks would drown in the shell. The air cell gets bigger, as the moisture evaporates. When the air cell get big enough, the egg will float. In the case of an egg soon to hatch, this means it's good, not that it's rotten.

And no, a momentary dip in water won't drown the chicks. The shells aren't as permeable as that. Just make sure the water's 100F, so you don't chill the eggs, and take them right back out and put back under the hen. (or in the 'bator, as the case may be.) The quick dip in water won't remove the "bloom", either, if you don't rub it. There are people who do this if they can't see the air cells, (very dark shells, or poor eyesight, or maybe other reasons) I remember reading a thread that several people discussed this in, but I don't remember the why. Checking to see if the egg was evaporating enough, I guess.

I wouldn't suggest doing this without know exactly why you would do it, nor would I suggest soaking an egg that's incubating. I can't think of any reason to leave it soaking.

A test for freshness in eating eggs doesn't work as a test for whether an incubated egg is ok. An eating egg that floats isn't always bad, either, just not very fresh. If you break it into a bowl and it looks and smells normal, it's fine.

And I agree, don't shake the eggs!

 

[The Wolf Queen]

Thanks everyone for the help NOW... I just have to wait!

HATCH ALREADY LOL