crushed eggs or paranoid

[jasonmcgilvrey83]

So here's an update on the smashed eggs. The one on the far left is plumping up and has movement but the middle one hasn't moved at all. Hope everything is ok with it.

[yzguy]

I've never tried maternal incubation, but if I don't see them right away, then they start looking deflated like that, I'm pretty sure it is due to loosing water. I then put them in an incubator, but then really don't see them plump up more.
I have had eggs much worse than that hatch out though and be fine.

If they start turning colors, or leak, then they are likely bad, but I wait until it is VERY obvious before removing anything just to be sure.

[jasonmcgilvrey83]

Not turning colors yet so I'm happy about that. Iv chhen checking on them daily. Their in front so I don't have to bother mama. Lol. Man this is super exciting and super stressful at the same time lol. Day 24. Last candle all had gains and got to see a couple move. I feel like a proud papa. Lol

[Seneschal]

I've never tried maternal incubation, but if I don't see them right away, then they start looking deflated like that, I'm pretty sure it is due to loosing water. I then put them in an incubator, but then really don't see them plump up more.
I have had eggs much worse than that hatch out though and be fine.

If they start turning colors, or leak, then they are likely bad, but I wait until it is VERY obvious before removing anything just to be sure.

Out of curiosity, what do you do if an egg is clearly bad, and is attached to the rest of the egg-pile? Can you safely remove it, and if so, how? I've heard they stick together pretty firmly.


Best of luck with your eggs!! I hope they do well for you!

[rafacacho]

Do u guys think I should get an incubator for the two eggs? I just want them to all be happy but I don't want to take them all away from mama. She's worked so hard already

I think you should.

[yzguy]

Out of curiosity, what do you do if an egg is clearly bad, and is attached to the rest of the egg-pile? Can you safely remove it, and if so, how? I've heard they stick together pretty firmly.


Best of luck with your eggs!! I hope they do well for you!

once I am REALLY SURE it is bad, 1 of 2 things. If there is a fairly small amount that is holding them together, then I use the dental floss sawing technique, which works pretty good. The egg shells are pretty tough.
Or if there is large area holding them together, then I cut open the bad egg, and just leave the section attached to the other eggs, removing as much of the bad egg as a I can, and leaving only the patch of the egg connected to the rest, and just wiping them off (this does stink more, and makes a bit of a mess sometimes, but I know I won't mess up the good eggs).

no idea what everyone else does, that is just what I do.

oh, and personally I would put any in the incubator, just because I feel it is easier than trying to give the mom the correct environment to incubate them correctly.

[Seneschal]

once I am REALLY SURE it is bad, 1 of 2 things. If there is a fairly small amount that is holding them together, then I use the dental floss sawing technique, which works pretty good. The egg shells are pretty tough.
Or if there is large area holding them together, then I cut open the bad egg, and just leave the section attached to the other eggs, removing as much of the bad egg as a I can, and leaving only the patch of the egg connected to the rest, and just wiping them off (this does stink more, and makes a bit of a mess sometimes, but I know I won't mess up the good eggs).

no idea what everyone else does, that is just what I do.

oh, and personally I would put any in the incubator, just because I feel it is easier than trying to give the mom the correct environment to incubate them correctly.

Thanks for the response, I was wondering if I'd get one given the age of the thread. I actually have a clutch in the incubator right now that I think one of the bottom eggs got damp pretty early on. There's a slight odor to the incubator right now, and since the top ones don't look to be rotting, I suspect it to be the bottom one. Problem is that the eggs, a clutch of 8, were laid in a pile, and adhered before I got to them. I have 7 visible eggs and one in the center/bottom of the clutch...I have no clue how to get to the thing to remove it without damaging the others. Really afraid of trying to cut/drain it, given that I'll have to somehow do it without tilting the remaining eggs.

[yzguy]

I'd start by seeing if there are any that are a little loose, and use the dental floss to saw it off and separate it. Then you can at least get a good look at that center egg.

Last year, I did cut 2 that had not piped yet, and those eggs are pretty tough, so I don't think you can hurt them with dental floss, just put pressure on it, and keep sawing back and fourth.

Also, I'm not even sure that the bad egg will affect the others.

[Seneschal]

Thanks for the advice. I'm a little hesitant to mess with them too much, as it's my first clutch, and I'm a bit of a nervous nelly with them. I'm concerned about having them out of the incubator long enough to do that (temp and humidity drops) and...if the bad egg won't hurt them, then I don't see a point in messing with them. I might actually create a new thread/poll and see what people have to say, rather than continuing to hijack this one...lol.