candling/hatching question

[nchls school]

It's also rainy here right now..hasn't rained in months and has been raining almost non stop since Saturday evening.

Sounds like our spring weather. Mallard ducklings are quite hardy. Check with local people; possibly the ducklings could be left with the hen without being brought in where it is warmer.

 

[tbevans]

Ok I will check around and see, but I don't think there are many duck owners around me..mainly chickens..I live in a very small "country" town. I don't plan on keeping all of them. I have people wanting them as soon as I can let them go. How long should they stay with mom/me before going to a new home?

 

[tbevans]

It finally stopped raining so I could go candle the eggs! I pulled all of the pekin eggs out because none were fertile. I checked all of the mallard eggs and some of them I could see many streaks of blood, but some of them I could only see a streak or small circle of blood.I left all of them out there and will check them again in a few days. I'm so excited I know some of them are developing!

 

[Orca5094]

The ones with just a line of blood or a blood ring ("circle of blood") have likely died very early in development, but it's always best to keep duck eggs until at least Day 10 of incubation before discarding. Sometimes they can surprise you and ones you thought weren't developing will have a nice red spider-web of healthy blood vessels the next time you candle them at 10 days. So, good call keeping your Mallard eggs for now. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[tbevans]

Oh ok!! Thanks! I wasn't sure why they looked different! Good to know! I'll Def keep updating!! I'm so excited!!

 

[tbevans]

I have another quick question!! I want to make sure I'm counting days right..do you count the day she started or start counting the day after?? Example:she started sitting 10/19 and today is 10/28 so are we on day 9 or day 10??

 

[Orca5094]

I have another quick question!! I want to make sure I'm counting days right..do you count the day she started or start counting the day after?? Example:she started sitting 10/19 and today is 10/28 so are we on day 9 or day 10??

You start counting the day after. Today is Day 9.

 

[tbevans]

Ahh! Thought so! Thanks so much! Oh...and I lied..I have yet another quick question..lol!! I have an egg that you can't see through at all. When you put the light up to it its just black. I need to chunk it right?

 

[Orca5094]

Ahh! Thought so! Thanks so much! Oh...and I lied..I have yet another quick question..lol!! I have an egg that you can't see through at all. When you put the light up to it its just black. I need to chunk it right?

Has it always been all dark? Does it just have a really thick or colored shell that you can't see through as well? Does the egg smell bad?

 

[tbevans]

The first time I noticed it was the day I candled them which was 2 days ago. I didn't smell anything. They all have a greenish/blueish tint because they are mallard eggs, but idk, when I put my flashlight up to it I can't see anything. I plan on candling again tomorrow since it will be day 10.