Correct me if I'm wrong?

[lynda66]

I would like to know how to work out what caused fully developed chicks (1 this time 3 last time) to die before hatching... one of the last time ones was all in one end of the egg with as much air pocket as occupied space (it was a very large egg) but it seemed very strange to me...

too big an air pocket is usually caused by not enough humidity.

[lynda66]

egg candling - Google Image Search

might be aome help on some of these sites, i have a brill one that shows everything, but unfortunately the links on my lap top and i can't get to it

[MaureenHall]

Just found this through Lynda's link. It might not be much help, but it's lovely to see
Google Image Result for http://www.nifty-stuff.com/images/chickens/egg3.jpg

[Snadger]

As clear as mud! (not my eggs.........i've given up on those!)

[lynda66]

try it on day 17 just before your last turn snadger ... you might get one kicking

[CoraxAurata]

too big an air pocket is usually caused by not enough humidity.

With one egg out of an incubator full which hatch 9 healthy chicks (small incubator) the humidity is pretty high in there too... I tend to have problems of too much humidity usually thats why I found it so strange.. any other thoughts?

[lynda66]

it's pretty weird, were the ones with big air bubbles in the middle?

[CoraxAurata]

it's pretty weird, were the ones with big air bubbles in the middle?

it was about halfway up one side or the incubator, fully developed dead chick in big egg with half the space empty.....

[lynda66]

tis strange innit, the earlier ones i had had all developed normally with normal air pockets, just didn't hatch. hope you find an answer

[Hilary B]

For useful results with a 'home candler' you need to prevent light going ROUND the egg. The gadget I used (and seemed to work OK) was a torch and a loo-roll-middle. Sit the egg on the thing and look from the SIDE (ie, not opposite the light) and it is quite surprising how much you can see, but there is no substitute for a demonstration by someone experienced, and unless you actually want to make alternate use of the infertile eggs (as you can at 7 days) it is really only an academic exercise.....