Do Eggs Gain Weight?

[4sillychickens]

This is my first time hatching eggs. That said, hopfully you'll understand if this question is totally dumb

My eggs are 17 days old and they feel heavier to me. My husband thinks I'm wacky

(I am, just a little). So, do the eggs gain weight while they are incubating? I did a search and couldn't find anything so I thought I'd throw the question out there. Anyone know?

 

[silkiechicken]

They need to lose about 10-12% of their weight in water.

 

[Chihuahuamom444]

Quote:
I have wondered the same thing

 

[FiveHens]

There's no way that they could, unless you've been feeding them

.

If anything, they'll lose weight as thy change nutrients and water into energy to grow.

 

[4sillychickens]

Quote:
I feed them lots of love

Thanks for all the comments! I'm thinking maybe because they feel different it makes them seem heavier?
Anyway, wouldn't it be interesting to weigh them at 1 day old and then at 18 days. Maybe next time

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
It's been done.

 

[Katy]

Even tho I know they actually lose weight, I always think mine seem heavier too so you're not alone.

 

[clayb226]

I also wondered this; I set 24 eggs, pulled them all out to candle, and placed them in egg crates. They seemed heavier than they did when I carried them in to set them in the incubator. I am on day 11 today, 4/22/2011, and will be candling tonight to see if I have any that are not developing so I cabn dispose of them.

 

[shelby528]

actually your wrong eggs do gain weight. I work on a chicken farm and help produce hatching eggs. I also hatch eggs myself they can gain weight with the growth of the chick although a lot that weight is water weight...hence why a 26 week old hens egg weighs less than a 60 week old hens egg to hatch.

 

[silkiechicken]

http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/incubation.html