Valentine's hatch-a-long

[jaudon77]

have you found anything that works good to candle these dark Marans eggs?

I have not tried yet, I have heard that they are really hard. Here is a good video someone recommended to me.

Basically your looking for a distinct separation of dark and light, but you have to wait until after day 5 or 6.

I put one white egg in my incubator just so I could monitor how far along they should be.

If an egg is not developing I have been told that it will light up like a Christmas tree. Bright light shining through the lighter places of the egg.

In my last hatch I had 4 eggs that did not develop at all and I think I got lucky bc they didn't explode. They were brown eggs, but not anywhere near as dark as the maran eggs I have in now. I had never candled or hatched before so I was too scared to throw them out. Now I have a good idea of what I'm looking for, so I'm a little more confident about discarding eggs.

Does anyone have any advice, half of these are shipped eggs and did experience some pretty cold temps (15 degrees F) during shipping. (Another long story I don't feel like getting frustrated over again)...I did not candle before I put them in as they are very dark. I don't even know how to look for a detached air cell which I have heard is common in shipped eggs. What would be the last day you would consider throwing eggs out?

 

[mattsinger]

with my last batch, I bought the brightest LED flashlight I could find....and I could make out some dark mass in some of them.....but some didnt pass any light. Ill try a few from this batch on Monday night...that will be 10 days

 

[chickydee64]

I have not tried yet, I have heard that they are really hard. Here is a good video someone recommended to me.

Basically your looking for a distinct separation of dark and light, but you have to wait until after day 5 or 6.

I put one white egg in my incubator just so I could monitor how far along they should be.

If an egg is not developing I have been told that it will light up like a Christmas tree. Bright light shining through the lighter places of the egg.

In my last hatch I had 4 eggs that did not develop at all and I think I got lucky bc they didn't explode. They were brown eggs, but not anywhere near as dark as the maran eggs I have in now. I had never candled or hatched before so I was too scared to throw them out. Now I have a good idea of what I'm looking for, so I'm a little more confident about discarding eggs.

Does anyone have any advice, half of these are shipped eggs and did experience some pretty cold temps (15 degrees F) during shipping. (Another long story I don't feel like getting frustrated over again)...I did not candle before I put them in as they are very dark. I don't even know how to look for a detached air cell which I have heard is common in shipped eggs. What would be the last day you would consider throwing eggs out?

HI,
I rarely throw eggs out.................I do not candle till day 11..........if I have clear eggs at lockdown...day 18
I toss them then.............I know others do it differently...........I've witnessed many times folks doing an eggtopsy (sp)
only to find there was a living chick in the egg.
Good Luck...........you will do fine

 

[kimmommy23]

On day 10 with my first hatch. 2 of my 3 eggs have a dark mass filling 1/2 the egg going lengthwise and in a fixed position. The yolk in the third egg is dark and moving freely with a very dark spot in it but no visible blood vessels. My question is which of these sounds normal. The shells are green (Easter eggers) and seem thick if that makes any difference. Is it possible for all of the eggs to be developing but at different rates?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

On day 10 with my first hatch. 2 of my 3 eggs have a dark mass filling 1/2 the egg going lengthwise and in a fixed position. The yolk in the third egg is dark and moving freely with a very dark spot in it but no visible blood vessels. My question is which of these sounds normal. The shells are green (Easter eggers) and seem thick if that makes any difference. Is it possible for all of the eggs to be developing but at different rates?

link to more info than you requested but lots of good advice:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

link to pictures:
http://shilala.homestead.com/candling.html

 

[kimmommy23]

Thank you Sally! Clicking on links now

 

[JDchicks]

8 of my 8 Phoenix eggs having veining!

Also, just loaded a incubator with 28 quail eggs.

First time hatching for both!

 

[kimmommy23]

So happy. I was concerned with last night's candling when it appeared I had just an immobile mass in 2 eggs and a clear 3rd. After reading the links Sally posted me I candled again and saw a chick dancing in it's egg! I feel like a first time mother all over again!!!! e

 

[JDchicks]

I have been using the below link. I like comparing, so I know if they are developing alright.
http://chat.allotment.org/index.php?topic=73884.0

 

[JDchicks]

link to more info than you requested but lots of good advice:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

link to pictures:
http://shilala.homestead.com/candling.html

Awesome links. The candling pic, that shows the formation of bad eggs was very interesting and useful to know. Thanks!