Eggs at 3 weeks...

[Rosey-Bear]

I have some eggs laid 3 weeks ago in the incubator. I have candled them and no veins or anything, still exactly the same looking as the day they were laid. Is it safe to say they are infertile and bin them?

[Hanako]

Don't do that! You never know...

[burnt toast]

You need to get a picture in dark with torch shining into them (doesn't sound promising though but better safe than sorry)

[emma_mcraf]

Can you post a photo?

[Hanako]

Don't give up on them. It is not over until it is over. It won't hurt to give them at least a month in incubator and then check. Maybe they are slow developers.

[sandy]

Originally Posted by Rosey-Bear

I have some eggs laid 3 weeks ago in the incubator. I have candled them and no veins or anything, still exactly the same looking as the day they were laid. Is it safe to say they are infertile and bin them?

What you have to do if this is your first clutch, is to look at the colour of the egg. When they are first laid, they have a very pink tinge to them. When they become fertile, they go a chalky white. Which is a noticeable change. But you cant tell if you didn't see the pinkish tinge in the first place:0)
I always incubate eggs to the end, as you never know:0)
And its still a learning curve.

[Rosey-Bear]

I will take some pics tonight, but they still have pinky tinge and absolutely no veins or anything inside.

[Rosey-Bear]

My other clutch of eggs, 4 of them, are due to hatch any day now. (I bet they keep me waiting though.)

[burnt toast]

Originally Posted by sandy

What you have to do if this is your first clutch, is to look at the colour of the egg. When they are first laid, they have a very pink tinge to them. When they become fertile, they go a chalky white. Which is a noticeable change. But you cant tell if you didn't see the pinkish tinge in the first place:0)
I always incubate eggs to the end, as you never know:0)
And its still a learning curve.

I agree with what Sandy has said. When my torts first started laying eggs I didn't have a clue! Tried to candle but was useless. I did start to see chalking & all of a sudden this season I can see quite a bit more even though using same torch - I guess its practise makes perfect! I can look at eggs now & straight away spot infertile ones!

[Hanako]

I had babies hatch only once, but I have to admit that I did not see anything from what people here are describing. I didn't notice that the eggs were first pinkish and became whiter. And I saw veins only in one of them. It may be that you don't know what exactly you are looking for so you won't notice it. I didn't.