I am totally stupid!

[Scottishnewbie]

I put 12 eggs into the incubator 3 days ago. About 10 minutes ago I was turning them and, I can't believe it, but I dropped one of them....talk about butter fingers at totally the wrong moment! I could have wept - well actually I did and felt like a murderer to boot!

Anyway my question is this, the shell is slightly cracked - not enough for anything to come out I think (hope). Should I leave the egg in the incubator and hope for the best or do I just cut my losses and dispose of it now?

What a total eejit!

Thanks folks

Laura

[CoraxAurata]

Oh, thats is a shame, I'm afraid the chances are pretty slim though I know they use clear nail varnish on hairline cracks for turtle eggs so it depends on the force of the drop I would say, a little knock and hairline crack might be worth a try any more and I would say unlikely....

You could incubate it to day 7 and candle it to see if anythings developing?

Sympathies though, I opened an egg 2 days overdue in the incubator (preparing to switch off) it had a live emryonic baby chick in it about the size of my thumb nail (very distressed me) so of course it died and as it was only about day 8 developed (at day 24!)so now I can't do anything with the rest of the eggs its the second incubator that I'm using borrowed from a freind and the temperature seems to vary across the 'bator which I didn't realise until this calamity. So I too am a murderer, and probably going to have rotten eggs burst in my incubator 'cos I aint taking any more out until they've had another 2 weeks (can't candle 'cos they are really dark shelled).

The only thing that cheers me up are my 5 fluffies that have hatched

[CoraxAurata]

I've got one pipping!!!!!!!!

[Scottishnewbie]

that's brilliant CoraxAurata, I'm really chuffed for you. Bet you're really glad you waited now eh? Thanks for the clear nailvarnish tip - I think I'll try it and then candle on day 7 like you suggest. It's not as if there's anything to lose I guess, and potentially quite a lot to gain.

Remember and post photo of new baby... x

[Bephlam]

what a shame Laura - still, it was an accident, and these things happen. I usually always break something when I'm trying extra hard not to. It's just sods law!

Let's hope at day 7 you see something - I wish you lots of luck!

[kevnsue]

I put 12 eggs into the incubator 3 days ago. About 10 minutes ago I was turning them and, I can't believe it, but I dropped one of them....talk about butter fingers at totally the wrong moment! I could have wept - well actually I did and felt like a murderer to boot!

Anyway my question is this, the shell is slightly cracked - not enough for anything to come out I think (hope). Should I leave the egg in the incubator and hope for the best or do I just cut my losses and dispose of it now?

What a total eejit!

Thanks folks

Laura

Hi,i did the same with a duck egg under my broody hen,it did'nt hatch but did have a chick inside,you've nothing to loose by leaving it in,cheers kev.

[walldanzig]

I helped a chick out of the egg on day 23 it bled to death. Felt awful will never fo that again will always leave it to nature

[CoraxAurata]

Its horrible when 'help' results intragedy

[Hilary B]

If you use nail varnish on the cracks, make sure you don't get any on the rest of the egg. It does need to breathe.... (sometimes it pays to state the obvious)

[RichmondHens]

I helped a chick out of the egg on day 23 it bled to death. Felt awful will never fo that again will always leave it to nature

I don't do anything with totally unhatched eggs (apart from breaking them when completely cold to see what, if anything, was inside, for my records) but if I have a very lively chick that is obviously struggling with the shell (sometimes the shells can be v thick) I will carefully break small pieces of shell away, but not the membrane. The theory is that if the chick is strong enough they can rip through the membrane without being encumbered by so much shell. It usually works too. I have a lovely Welsummer hen who I helped hatch last year, and she has turned out to be a really good layer, so it was worth it.

[Scottishnewbie]

thanks for all your help and advice folks. I'll definately wait till day 7 and see if there's anything happening. i didnt have any clear nailvarnish so i havent done that but i'm hopeful it will work out ok. I'll post updates....

[julesapple]

I might be a bit daft, but....

thanks for all your help and advice folks. I'll definately wait till day 7 and see if there's anything happening. i didnt have any clear nailvarnish so i havent done that but i'm hopeful it will work out ok. I'll post updates....

......why does the nail varnish have to be clear? Surely any colour would do in an emergency, I mean, if you've nothing to lose?

I hope everything goes well.....keep us posted on Day 7.

Jules

[CoraxAurata]

......why does the nail varnish have to be clear? Surely any colour would do in an emergency, I mean, if you've nothing to lose?

I hope everything goes well.....keep us posted on Day 7.

Jules

Lol quite right I can't think why either! Coloured would cutually be easier to control and not over paint......

Well done!

[Scottishnewbie]

so i am even dumber than i first thought! i HAD coloured nailvarnish but presumed it was clear for a reason!!!! never mind, day 4 is tomorrow so hopefully will have something to report in a few days...fingers are crossed......hard to turn eggs like that though!!!!!

[julesapple]

so i am even dumber than i first thought! i HAD coloured nailvarnish but presumed it was clear for a reason!!!! never mind, day 4 is tomorrow so hopefully will have something to report in a few days...fingers are crossed......hard to turn eggs like that though!!!!!

Rubbish Scottie! You are not dumb.

I thought it had to be clear for a reason, but I thought if the egg was a gonner anyway then wouldn't any nail polish do....I fully expected to be told something like the coloured pigment was bad for the egg or something scientific like that.

You're doing your best, and we're right behind you,

Jules