Eggs don't feel right

[warriec]

I was candling my eggs yesterday and I found 2 eggs from the same parents not feeling right. They were warm, fertile and showed no damage. They were light weight from the previous or from the time they were laid. Its about 10days now.

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by warriec

I was candling my eggs yesterday and I found 2 eggs from the same parents not feeling right. They were warm, fertile and showed no damage. They were light weight from the previous or from the time they were laid. Its about 10days now.

I don't understand what you're saying?

[warriec]

They eggs are fertile and 10days into incubation but they dont weigh right. not heavy enough

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by warriec

They eggs are fertile and 10days into incubation but they dont weigh right. not heavy enough

I can't say that I have a clue as to what an egg should or should not feel like or weigh at 10 days into incubation.
If I candle an egg, I do it at about 7 days and I couldn't tell you if any "weighed" more or less than any other I've candled. After I candle them and see if they are good or not, I don't have any reason to handle them again.
And it doesn't actually matter I don't think. They'll either hatch or they won't and there's not a lot we can do about it either way. Agree??

[DEEJAY7950]

You think there hollow? Maybe they are Duds! could be you mis-interpreted the egg as fertile when it actually was a dud from the start? Only time will tell!

[warriec]

they are fertile i check my eggs twice - at day 5 and day 10 and any egg that is not fertile is removed because i foster the eggs to pumpers.

its a mystery, looks right but dont feel right. Lets hope for the best and see

[DEEJAY7950]

Yep that's all we can do, hope you don't get some sort of "MIDGET RACER" now that would be interesting LOL!

[jbangelfish]

Originally Posted by warriec

I was candling my eggs yesterday and I found 2 eggs from the same parents not feeling right. They were warm, fertile and showed no damage. They were light weight from the previous or from the time they were laid. Its about 10days now.

But eggs do actually lose weight during incubation as some moisture escapes from them during the process.

There are formulas that can tell you if the egg is in good health at various stages of their developement. I have no idea what the formulas are but a friend of mine who bred falcons for release to the wild, regularly weighed the eggs during incubation to be sure of their health and viability.

Eggs that dry out too much often have a thin shell. In pigeons these eggs are often rough to the touch, rather than smooth and shiney like they should be. Maybe feed more or better grit if you are getting too many eggs that dry prematurely.

This is what DDT did to the Bald Eagles (and probably other birds as well) in the US until it was banned. It caused the birds to lay thin shelled eggs that either would break or just not hatch because they dried too fast and died.

Since banning the use of DDT, the Eagles have made a remarkable comeback and are no longer even on the endangered list.

Toxins and disease are other reasons for laying thin shelled eggs.

Bill

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by jbangelfish

Toxins and disease are other reasons for laying thin shelled eggs.

Bill

Thin shelled eggs can also be caused by the inability of the hen to absorb calcium correctly, either due to lack of other minerals and vitamins in the diet or a health issue.

[jbangelfish]

It was just a possiblity. If they are, I suggested better grit or more grit or look to disease or Toxins as a possible cause.


Bill

[philodice]

I changed to a higher calcium grit, put vitamins in the water, and some apple cider vinegar and that improved egg quality in my only laying hen.

Two lessons I learned: Odd egg or not, it could still hatch. Yes, it could hatch into a runt. I have an odd egg hatch squab that is 30% undersized at her age one month after hatch.

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by philodice

I changed to a higher calcium grit, put vitamins in the water, and some apple cider vinegar and that improved egg quality in my only laying hen.

Two lessons I learned: Odd egg or not, it could still hatch. Yes, it could hatch into a runt. I have an odd egg hatch squab that is 30% undersized at her age one month after hatch.

I like to root for the underdog, I bet this runt is a cute little thing. I also learned something, I did not know they could hatch such a small baby. interesting.

[pigeonpoo]

I had this with my first round. A very experienced fancier checked the eggs and, of one pair, he said that they looked full but felt too light. He didn't think that they'd hatch but, I wouldn't let him throw them. They hatched and the youngsters were fine.
It's not long to wait now to see what happens - give hem a chance for the sake of a week or so.