August 2021 Hatch-A-Long

[Nelliebo]

So duckling #1 externally pipped roughly 36 hours ago (less than 24 hours after lockdown). Since then, it has punched two more holes in the same spot. I opened up the incubator and it started peeping at me. I can see the end of it's bill and wing (?). How do you know when it's malpositioned and needs help?

 

[kurby22]

Yes they were shipped but I started out poorly with a lot of clears. thankfully I have enough females from my last hatch that I should be able to hatch some of my own from now on.
They are all hiding under the massive brooder plate at the moment and are in a big brooder so hard to get photos when they do run out lol. I'll take heaps once their smaller brooder arrives which should be tomorrow, but for now here is one of the kings with one of the coturnix.
View attachment 2793930

They’re sooo tiny!! And I think Coturnix are tiny! How CUTE!

 

[kurby22]

So duckling #1 externally pipped roughly 36 hours ago (less than 24 hours after lockdown). Since then, it has punched two more holes in the same spot. I opened up the incubator and it started peeping at me. I can see the end of it's bill and wing (?). How do you know when it's malpositioned and needs help?

I would step in and maybe crack a bit bigger hole? 36 hrs is a long time to be half zipped. It’s always so hard to know though!

 

[Nelliebo]

I open up the hole a bit this morning and that seemed to give it the space to turn. In just an hour it's started pecking in a circle. Hopefully I'll have a new duckling today!

 

[kurby22]

I open up the hole a bit this morning and that seemed to give it the space to turn. In just an hour it's started pecking in a circle. Hopefully I'll have a new duckling today!

Oh yay! That's great!

 

[BullChick]

Ducks are a lot slower to hatch than chickens.

 

[Nelliebo]

We've only hatched quail before, and that years ago (10+), so I'm pretty lost.

Duckling #1 is out and drying off. Everything looks good as far as I can tell. The other two have pip holes, so hopefully they won't take too long--the first little one looks so pitiful trying to snuggle up to the eggs.

 

[AusHen]

Three leghorns have hatched and out of 4 possible varieties all three are whites. Normally I would be upset with lack of colour but apparently the whites are a utility strain developed by a Scientific research organisation some years ago
I still have one egg left that might not be white, then the ducks

 

[yakitori]

Adults need a square foot per 3-4 birds.

That sounds super squishy! would there be a minimum? like 4sqft for the first 4 birds then 1sq ft for every 2 birds after etc?
Making up numbers here, lol.

 

[AusHen]

Took two of the leghorns out and into the brooder, the thirds navel was still a tad big so it's staying in the incubator longer. Fourth egg hasn't pipped yet but I saw it rocking.
Candled the Pekin duck eggs and all 5 are still doing well.