The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: ponylady on August 02, 2015, 05:28:02 pm

Title: damaged hatching egg?
Post by: ponylady on August 02, 2015, 05:28:02 pm

Popped my 3 hatching eggs into my incubator 24 hours ago, and have just noticed one egg has a black mark which looks like the shell is damaged. Do I ditch this egg now and replace it with another egg which I have to hand? Or continue with finger crossed? I'm assuming its best if I ditch it ...

Title: Re: damaged hatching egg?
Post by: Marches Farmer on August 02, 2015, 05:56:06 pm

If the shell is compromised bacteria may already have entered the egg.  I personally would feel inclined to replace it and mark the late one so you know not to panic when it doesn't hatch on the same day as the others. Fertility is likely to be declining at this time of year anyway.

Title: Re: damaged hatching egg?
Post by: ponylady on August 02, 2015, 06:05:42 pm

That was my gut feeling too ... someone needs to tell my Pekin bantams that their fertility should be dropping, coz theirs isn't!!

Title: Re: damaged hatching egg?
Post by: Kimbo on August 02, 2015, 06:24:11 pm

I wouldn't risk the apparently damaged egg; you don't want it to contaminate the other two.

Title: Re: damaged hatching egg?
Post by: ponylady on August 02, 2015, 09:39:38 pm

I have ditched the suspect egg ... I wasn't totally happy with it. I cracked it open to check if it was fertile, and it was :) So that bodes well for the 3 in the incubator and the 2 spare eggs :)  :fc:

Title: Re: damaged hatching egg?
Post by: doganjo on August 03, 2015, 03:26:30 pm

What didn't you put them all in together at the same time?  Just curious

Title: Re: damaged hatching egg?
Post by: ponylady on August 03, 2015, 03:46:58 pm

Simple. My incubator only holds 3 large eggs :)

Title: Re: damaged hatching egg?
Post by: doganjo on August 03, 2015, 03:52:30 pm

Aha  a toaty wan then  :innocent:  Seriously though, I didn't know they made incys that small to be honest.

Title: Re: damaged hatching egg?
Post by: ponylady on August 03, 2015, 04:03:48 pm

Neither did I until I got this at the weekend. Small is best, otherwise I'll hatch anything and everything  :innocent:

Title: Re: damaged hatching egg?
Post by: Clansman on August 06, 2015, 04:39:16 pm

Quote from: ponylady on August 03, 2015, 04:03:48 pm

Neither did I until I got this at the weekend. Small is best, otherwise I'll hatch anything and everything  :innocent:

Tell me about it!

I started with a 30 egg one, then got an additional 40 egg one, then another 40 then decided to upgrade to a 100 (whilst still using all the others) and now thinking about getting another 100  ::)

Title: Re: damaged hatching egg?
Post by: Kimbo on August 06, 2015, 04:52:51 pm

Keep going Clansman....I just love your photos

Title: Re: damaged hatching egg?
Post by: Kimbo on August 19, 2015, 03:24:42 pm

Nearly the big day Ponylady!
You and I both have chicks due on Friday but mine always come a day early, or even 2 days early. So Ive started watching.
Let us know how you get on.

Title: Re: damaged hatching egg?
Post by: Clansman on August 19, 2015, 03:40:10 pm

Latest brooder pic Kimbo!  :thumbsup:

(http://i61.tinypic.com/258w31c.jpg)

Title: Re: damaged hatching egg?
Post by: Kimbo on August 19, 2015, 07:29:21 pm

Oh WOW! I love these pics. Thank you. A crowd of little sleepy-heads!