Recent content by lj2016

He didn't make it :( it's such a shame he pipped and made a hole but never made it out. I'll try what you suggested by storing them in a cupboard, thanks. I think with batches we can control humidity much better. MY peking hasnt laid in days so I may not have any more eggs anyway

Yes I've staggered the setting as our pekin lays daily (well actually she's suddenly stopped but I am assuming maybe it's the change in weather). Ideally I'd like to store the eggs for 6-7 days and then put a batch in the incubator, and continue this way in batches. That way on day 25 I can move...

I don't think the pipped egg has survived. I could see movement until about 5am this morning but since then there has been nothing. I think I'll take it out and check this evening. Not sure why he wasn't able to make it out?

Good, I'm relieved to hear it's normal then for them to take so long. This certainly teaches you patience. Once I've mastered this egg thing I can buy some other duck breeds to try so I have a nice varied flock :) for now I have an awful lot of pekins!

Update: so I went to take the new duckling out of the hatcher but before I did I suddenly noticed the other egg is moving again. It's hard to see as the eggs rolled so far out of sight through the viewing window but I can make out a hole and the bit of broken shell over that hole is moving so I...

No, literally as I posted I walked back in the room and he was out. I then realised there's no way the tiny thing could go in with the week old ones. I was so worried as he took so long zipping. None of my eggs seem to follow the 'norm' so far in terms of hatching - it's making me a nervous...

Ok great thanks I'll try that later tonight when I take the new one out. They never seem to fluff up in the hatcher so I'll take him out on 3-4 hrs, just getting the new brooder temp to settle at about 90°

He is out guys!!! :) :) :) Sorry for the delayed reply as I had a mad dash to the shop to get materials, I've had to set up another brooder as my other duckling is so big now I don't want him to stomp the new one. Also in the hatcher now is another egg that pipped yesterday, made that hole...

Ok. Great. Thank you! I will keep an eye on him over the next hour or so. Fingers crossed! :) wait, i think he may be out!!!! :)

Me again - I have a new problem now . . . this fella has been zipping for hours, about 5 hours roughly and my concern now is he's flipped the egg over so he's kind of upside down. I've attached 2 pics - so the part he's zipped is now on the bottom of the hatcher . . . is he going to be able to...

Thanks I'll see if I can get some. Failing that I'll just put a sheet down for the next week or so I think

I'm pretty sure they are eating the pine wood shavings. I've put their water thing on a tray but still the shavings are getting in the tray and then the water spills in the tray, so every time they drink they are drinking up bits of the shavings. I think I'll put a sheet down over the shavings...

Thanks, i'll keep an eye on it. I assume my week old ones have been doing it the whole time and they seem fine. I've seen people say they lay paper towels down but they'd prob just eat that as well. And this duck thing was supposed to be easy!

I'm also a little concerned they might be eating their pine shavings :/ I've only just noticed as spent a lot of time with them today making sure the new one bonds ok and doesn't get trampled. I use the large pine shavings, which our local farm store say is what they use for all their new...

Great thanks :) The new one is trying to bond with the other 2 and I think they are slowly coming round but right now he's sitting alone. Here they are, its amazing how fast they grow . . .