Help! Almost all of my eggs have detached air cells!!

[Debbie292d]

I’m on day 4 of incubation, with 12 shipped eggs. I let them sit, fat end up for 19 hours before incubation, but I just candled and all are developing amazingly, but 11 of the eggs have big detached air cells! What should I do?

I've purchased a ton of shipped eggs over the years and had this "saddled" air cell issue every time. I did nothing different.

They may or may not need assistance getting out. If they pip, they should be out in 24 hours. If after 24 hours, they don't even look close to getting out, then help them out. Here's how:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[Egg Snatcher]

I’m on day 4 of incubation, with 12 shipped eggs. I let them sit, fat end up for 19 hours before incubation, but I just candled and all are developing amazingly, but 11 of the eggs have big detached air cells! What should I do?

They will be fine. I’ve hatched chicks from eggs with detached air cells before. From what I’ve read there isn’t mush that can be done other than keep incubating them.
I agree with @Debbie292d

 

[Traffie Chickens]

They will be fine. I’ve hatched chicks from eggs with detached air cells before. From what I’ve read there isn’t mush that can be done other than keep incubating them.
I agree with @Debbie292d

Ok! So I will just keep incubating as normal, and then keep an eye out for any that might need help hatching! Thank you guys so much!

 

[Debbie292d]

Ok! So I will just keep incubating as normal, and then keep an eye out for any that might need help hatching! Thank you guys so much!

You're so welcome.

I will add, if you do have to help any, they may seem weaker or may seem to have a leg issue, don't take them out. I leave them behind in the incubator past the rest all hatching, turn it down to 95F and just leave them in there another day. It doesn't hurt as they sleep the vast majority of it, and don't need food/water for their first 72 hrs. They seem to make a miraculous recovery just being left in there by themselves.

I'm wishing you a great hatch!

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

How long did you leave them sitting before putting them in the incubator? I’m about to start my second round of incubation with shipped eggs tomorrow.

I incubate shipped eggs too but don’t really know how to check if an airsac is detached or not (I’m new to this). My first hatch all 4 that made it to lockdown hatched but were stuck to the egg still in some way, one had a cord wrapped around its foot even. Could this be related?

 

[Island Coppers]

"Thank you so much! But also, How do I turn them?"

Don't turn them until the air sac is stable.

 

[Island Coppers]

Traffie Chickens​

These are the instructions from the site I ordered my Black Copper Marans hatching eggs from. They were shipped from the east coast to Washington State and I had a 70% hatching rate.

1) Let settle for 24 hours pointy side down at room temp.

2) After 24 hours put them in your incubator. DO NOT TURN EGGS FOR 3 FULL DAYS..... MINIMUM.

3) After three days candle eggs and a check for loose air cells. Any that are stable can begin turning.

4) Any eggs that air cells are still detached, do not turn and check every 24 hours for up to a week total.

Best of luck

 

[Traffie Chickens]

Traffie Chickens​

These are the instructions from the site I ordered my Black Copper Marans hatching eggs from. They were shipped from the east coast to Washington State and I had a 70% hatching rate.

1) Let settle for 24 hours pointy side down at room temp.

2) After 24 hours put them in your incubator. DO NOT TURN EGGS FOR 3 FULL DAYS..... MINIMUM.

3) After three days candle eggs and a check for loose air cells. Any that are stable can begin turning.

4) Any eggs that air cells are still detached, do not turn and check every 24 hours for up to a week total.

Best of luck

Thanks! I will keep this in mind before I start incubating if I do another hatch!

 

[Chickenbubble22]

I’m on day 4 of incubation, with 12 shipped eggs. I let them sit, fat end up for 19 hours before incubation, but I just candled and all are developing amazingly, but 11 of the eggs have big detached air cells! What should I do?

I have had this before in eggs. It might make hatching more difficult, but honestly I think your best shot is to just incubate as normal. The issues won't come from the displaced air cell impeding development or anything, it will just be harder for the chicks to find the air cell when trying to hatch. They may be in the wrong position to reach the air cell, and unfortunately this may cause some of them to die. There's nothing we can really do about that.
However, I will say that I have a surprising amount of chicks hatch without breaking the air cell at all! Sometimes they are breech babies and are able to pip without needing the air cell and they will be perfectly healthy chicks.
So basically my advice would be to incubate as normal, and nature will take its course. Don't stress too much about it, they are capable of hatching like this and you will get baby chicks! Good luck and congratulations, soon-to-be chicken parent!!

 

[Traffie Chickens]

I have had this before in eggs. It might make hatching more difficult, but honestly I think your best shot is to just incubate as normal. The issues won't come from the displaced air cell impeding development or anything, it will just be harder for the chicks to find the air cell when trying to hatch. They may be in the wrong position to reach the air cell, and unfortunately this may cause some of them to die. There's nothing we can really do about that.
However, I will say that I have a surprising amount of chicks hatch without breaking the air cell at all! Sometimes they are breech babies and are able to pip without needing the air cell and they will be perfectly healthy chicks.
So basically my advice would be to incubate as normal, and nature will take its course. Don't stress too much about it, they are capable of hatching like this and you will get baby chicks! Good luck and congratulations, soon-to-be chicken parent!!

Yes! Thank you! We are now on day 14 with 10 eggs, and I’m glad to say that 8 of the eggs air cells reattached!