What am I supposed to see??? Help Please!! Day 13

[mags2009]

Hi, this is my first attempt to hatch, and am using a brinsea octogon 40 dx incubator. I started with 6 black copper marans, 6 blue ameracaunas, and 8 welsummers (all shipped, I ordered 6 welsummers, but she sent me 8) anyway, I am down to 5 welsummers due to weeping eggs. I smell a kind of "bad" smell from the bator, and have smelled the eggs. 2 more welsummers are "iffy" They have an odor, which MAY be rotten, but not sure. I tried to candle them ,using a small flashlight, (that's all we have) but don't know what I am supposed to see. I see a blob with space at the end. If they have a slight smell, are they rotten then? Can someone tell me if I should throw them out, or wait? Also, should I just give up trying to candle? I don't know what I am supposed to be seeing. It's day 13 today. Thank you!

 

[KristaChickenWhisperer]

One of the BYC members has a great page with candling pics. I used it when I was hatching and it helped a lot. Here is the link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=230

hope it helps!

 

[ADozenGirlz]

I found these sites helpful & you might too:

http://shilala.homestead.com/candling.html
This one has graphic photos of chicken embryos NOT in the shell, but it will give you an idea of what they look like inside:
http://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/Embryology/embryophotos.shtml

http://doe.sd.gov/octa/ddn4learning/themeunits/egg/inside.htm

 

[mags2009]

I have looked at those sites, but wondered if what I'm seeing is what is supposed to be happening. Also, if the smelly eggs were bad, if they had a blob and air sac. Thanks.