[Floopy]

Hello! I'm totally new to this forum, and to hatching chicks, but I wonder if somebody here might be able to help me through my confusion...

I've currently got a bunch of chicken eggs in the incubator. It's day 8 just now, and as far as I can tell the incubator's been doing what it should. When I candled the eggs, there was one that has a largish black mass in it - larger and denser than what I would have expected, going by what ye olde internet tells me, and I'm worried that this is something I should... umm... worry about. It may be my imagination, but it also feels quite a bit heavier than the other ones.

Here's an attempt at taking a photo of it, apologies for the poor quality.
Alien?

Anybody got any ideas?

[Bodger]

That looks to be 'perfick'to me and you're eggs look to be on track. Good luck.

[Clansman]

Yep looks ok, it just looks like a thicker shell

[HesterF]

I can't really see the mass - isn't that just the air sac (normal) inside a thicker shell like the others have said? Even if something odd is happening, you'll do no harm to keep an eye on it. In a few more days it'll be very obvious which ones are developing normally and which ones aren't.

Good luck with the hatching - make sure you've got some heat set up 'cos it's late in the season to hatch so you'll need to take the transition to the outside world gently without a mum to hide under.

H

[Floopy]

Thanks all, that's reassuring! It just looks so very different from the other one (didn't start with very many, and there were some empties...)

I realise it's a bit late in the year, and now the weather's taken a turn for the extra-chilly, but I'll try and keep them cozy! 

Carmen

[suziequeue]

Am in same position floops. I've got a bantam sitting on two eggs. I just couldn't resist....... even though it's getting colder now. Hopefully mine will look like yours when I candle them tonight.

[Floopy]

Good luck! At least you've got someone to do the turning for you... :-D

C

[Floopy]

My 'black mass' is chirping! I'm so excited!! I might have to spend the next 24h staring at the incubator, sorry.

[Daisys Mum]

 

[mowhaugh]

That's exciting!

[Pedwardine]

Oooh I remember that excited feeling  . Let chicky do it's own thing and try not to help even if you really really want to  . Just keep the humidity going and watch with wonder.....

[JulieWall]

I had a batch like that and only one had that black mass. It turned out to be the only viable egg in the set and hatched into a lovely strong chick. The rest had succumbed to the shaking about they got in the post despite perfect packing.

[Mammyshaz]

  looking forward to seeing some piccies of little hatchling. Keep us posted 

[Floopy]

Well, say hello to Thing One: IMG_7765

I'm glad to say I read the 'Helping eggs to hatch' article on darkbrowneggs a few days ago (in preparation), so I wasn't tempted to interfere...  http://www.darkbrowneggs.info/#/helping-eggs-to-hatch/4555348326

There's another one in the incubator now (out of the original six -- the other four went the same way as yours, Julie). It looked good up until a few days ago, hoping it'll be ok!

(Part of me is also hoping it'll wait another wee while until my son comes home from school...)

C

[Bionic]

It's so exciting isn't it