Air cell on side of eggs

[albinosilver]

I'm about 9 days into incubation with eggs collected from my own birds and I've noticed that ALL the eggs have the air cell on the side on the egg (see drawing). I've never seen this before. They all seem to be alive and developing well. Any idea why this would be the case and if they will survive full term?

 

[cleoandtheflock]

It happens don’t worry before lockdown put the air cell side up and the chick should be able to hatch

 

[cleoandtheflock]

Sometimes as the chick grows the air cell will shift

 

[Alaskan]

That is VERY odd.

That often happens with shipped eggs since the shaking from shipping breaks the chalaza (which is that clearing rope that holds the yolk in the middle and the air cell at the wide end)

But in home eggs?

-ponder-

If the eggs are old, the chalaza looses its strength and the yolk and air cell slowly shift. This is especially true if they have not been rotated while sitting.

But...... older hens just naturally might not be laying eggs of as high quality.

Or.... if their nutrition has been a bit low that can also reduce egg quality.

Of maybe a grandchild gathered the eggs for you and shook them impressively on her way back to the house.

(Oh... if they are rarely or never turned during incubation the air cells can also slide over)

Whatever the cause.... the saddle shaped air cells might make it a bit more difficult for the chicks to position correctly to hatch... but might be fine.

If it is due to a nutritional issue the chicks are usually much slower to hatch, and pep up more slowly, in which case a bit of save-a-chick or equivalent for the first 2 days should help.

 

[aart]

Did you candle eggs before setting them?
I always do, to look for cracks and mark air cells.

This hatch I found a detached air cell and 4-5 side air cells like your illustration.
Even had one fat end cell shift to a side cell by day 7.
Detached cell started to develop but quit at about day 4-5-6.
All side cells, including the shifted one, are doing well today(day 10).

Remains to be seen if they hatch. and if so, where they will pip.

 

[Alaskan]

Did you candle eggs before setting them?
I always do, to look for cracks and mark air cells.

This hatch I found a detached air cell and 4-5 side air cells like your illustration.
Even had one fat end cell shift to a side cell by day 7.
Detached cell started to develop but quit at about day 4-5-6.
All side cells, including the shifted one, are doing well today(day 10).

Remains to be seen if they hatch. and if so, where they will pip.

Do you have any guesses as to why some were side air cells, and the 1 detached?

 

[aart]

Do you have any guesses as to why some were side air cells, and the 1 detached?

One of my girls got membrane issues.
Thinks the side cells were laid as detached but they 'settled' as they lay on their sides.
Had never heard of detached air cells on freshly laid eggs...
...just shipped ones, so started this thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/weird-air-cells-on-fresh-eggs.1297757/

 

[Alaskan]

I have had 1 girl that never laid "good" eggs, and a few that as they aged the quality of their eggs declined......

Thanks for the input

 

[albinosilver]

@Alaskan
I only turned them 2x a day for the first 5 days but now I’m turning 3x a day.

Does not turning them enough actually cause the air cell to shift?

 

[Alaskan]

@Alaskan
I only turned them 2x a day for the first 5 days but now I’m turning 3x a day.

Does not turning them enough actually cause the air cell to shift?

If they are not turned much then yes, the air cell can shift.