Maggots coming out of our eggs

[Mrs. BJ Hensley Jr.]

We have 3 incubators. 2 have 42 chicken eggs each and 1 has 2 dozen plus 3 dozen quail eggs. Last week (they were 1 week along), we when we turned the eggs, we found 1 that was not good. It had a VERY small hole in it that you couldnt see unless you really looked. As i peered at it to make sure it was a hole, a maggot crawled out

! I figured out that it is Fruit fly larvae. In another incubator, in another room, I found a couple more crawling around. How did it get in there? Are all my eggs going to be bad now? What should I do? Every time Im done using the incubator, I clean it with antibacterial soap and a wash cloth. I know you're not supposed to use solvants, but i usually have at lease 1 egg bust and its nasty in there. How did thid happen? is it possible that they were bad eggs from the nest? or do you think bugs got in there durring incubation when i turn the eggs? I have NEVER had this problem before! My sister in-law has been having a similar problem a mile away with her eggs. And so is my granny next door to my sis-in-law. I get my eggs from them Except my quail eggs. Im the only one with them.

 

[atimme]

Unless all of the eggs have cracks then the rest should be just fine. It's impossible for small flies or large ones for that matter to penetrate the shell, that's what it's for. Cracked eggs are just a maggot farm waiting to happen, hot temps, food, moisture, perfect fly conditions. Don't give up on the rest!

 

[TyrannosaurusChix]

*runs around screaming*

why why why did i open the thread.. why? my morbid curiosity!!! one of the few things that im afraid of.. its the M word. BLEH.. i have no advice for you.. sorry

 

[Mrs. BJ Hensley Jr.]

But why is this all happening now? We check our eggs 2 times a day when we turn them to make sure none are broken. why would this be happening to 2/3 of my incubators. And... Why so common all a sudden at 3 different houses?

 

[Mrs. BJ Hensley Jr.]

It is even happening under the broody hens at my sis-in-laws house; and in her 2 incubators too!

 

[atimme]

Because it's fly season and they will get into anything. We've been fighting them like crazy people. Try putting a little fly bait in the bottom, floated in a pop bottle lid in the water container. Be sure to remove it before the chicks hatch. It could be that you had some flies lay eggs on the chicken's eggs before they were collected and they somehow burrowed their way in? Sounds unlikely but maybe they are super flies? Crazy! It doesn't sound like they came from the incubator if you are cleaning them well... any thoughts anyone!?

 

[Mrs. BJ Hensley Jr.]

the instructions say to have 1 hole open on the incubator for air circulation. we usually have both closed but had problems with humidity(?). could they maybe be coming in that way? We have been incubatine for a year now and im still pretty new at it. but I take necessary precautions.

 

[nnbreeder]

Do a search for egg candling. I always candle eggs to look for cracks and flaws before setting them then at 7 and 14 days into incubation to remove bad eggs. That along with your cleaning should help to solve the problem.

Also if you think that the flies may be getting in through the air vents cover them with a bit of window screen.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Ditto..

 

[geebs]