➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[RosieR]

Pay attention to how the egg is sitting before you grab it. Keep it in that position.

Do you hatch them standing up or laying down?

The turner has them upright, but I hatch laying down.

 

[Kiki]

I can’t see much with my light anyways. Basically if it’s infertile, or how “full” the egg is. Just running off an iPhone light.

Get a dang powerful flash light...for next time.
Phone lights suck in comparison.

 

[RosieR]

Get a dang powerful flash light...for next time.
Phone lights suck in comparison.

I know... lol
I’ll check and see if there are sales today on the little LED’s

 

[Morrigan]

My coop is only 4'x8' and 6' tall with 4 nest boxes and 2 roosting bars. So 32 sq ft yes?

I've heard 4 square feet/bird as a general rule, although in my own experience, I think 5 square feet/bird is a better minimum. Remember, there will be times during bad weather, or an enforced lock-down due to predators, where they will all be in there together for a couple of days. They can get pretty territorial and squabble over roost space, so the more roosting areas the better.

 

[RosieR]

Get a dang powerful flash light...for next time.
Phone lights suck in comparison.

What did you recommend? 5000 lumens? I can’t remember

 

[Kiki]

I know... lol
I’ll check and see if there are sales today on the little LED’s

500 lumens...at least.

 

[CrazyCrttr75]

I've heard 4 square feet/bird as a general rule, although in my own experience, I think 5 square feet/bird is a better minimum. Remember, there will be times during bad weather, or an enforced lock-down due to predators, where they will all be in there together for a couple of days. They can get pretty territorial and squabble over roost space, so the more roosting areas the better.

I hear ya. 2-4 sq ft. depending on breed/size of birds is what I read. More is ALWAYS better. Is the only reason holding me back and why I haven't gone to TSC yet. I'm not worried about predators so much but I do have concerns for spacial territory squabbles. The urge is strong but I will probably just sit tight and enjoy the fluffies that I already have. (at least until I have another, "I can make it work" moment that I have to fight off.)

 

[R2elk]

I candle every single day. I need to know the exact day they quit if they quit. No way in the world I could make it to lockdown and not know who is alive or not.

I gotta know.
I don't know how some of y'all can just wait to see what hatches.

I'd go nuts.

It's easy especially when you are using reliable equipment. I turn on the incubator in the morning and adjust the humidity if needed (have to add water in the spring but not in the summer). I add the eggs in the evening and turn on the turner. Either 18 or 25 days later (depends on whether chicken, turkey or guinea eggs) I turn on the hatcher in the morning, add the humidity wick pads and turn on the water. That evening I take the eggs out of the incubator, candle the eggs and move any that appear viable to the hatcher. The remaining eggs get buried in the garden. Normally in two more days the hatching starts and finishes on the third day.

I do candle a second time after the hatching has stopped just to make sure any unhatched eggs are not viable. I found many of my Welsummer eggs did hatch on day 22 when all the others finished up on day 21.

 

[R2elk]

I hear ya. 2-4 sq ft. depending on breed/size of birds is what I read.

The main thing to remember is that no one is posting about the ideal amount of area required. They all post the minimum required space. Aiming for at least double the minimum is a good idea and making it even bigger than that can save a lot of expense down the road after chicken math has kicked in.

 

[Kiki]

It's easy especially when you are using reliable equipment. I turn on the incubator in the morning and adjust the humidity if needed (have to add water in the spring but not in the summer). I add the eggs in the evening and turn on the turner. Either 18 or 25 days later (depends on whether chicken, turkey or guinea eggs) I turn on the hatcher in the morning, add the humidity wick pads and turn on the water. That evening I take the eggs out of the incubator, candle the eggs and move any that appear viable to the hatcher. The remaining eggs get buried in the garden. Normally in two more days the hatching starts and finishes on the third day.

I'm sure I'll get to the point where I set them and forget about them but I'm still learning. Hands on learning is better for me.

It's very cool to look into the eggs and see the daily changes too.