August Hatch-A-Long

[stargazer1974]

I'm so nervous! My duck eggs are due to hatch tomorrow and I'm worried. Here's the thing... Sunday (lockdown day) I looked through the window of the bator and an empty egg was staring at me!!! I found a perfectly dry little duckling stumbling around on the turner!!! It wasn't like that a few hours before. I was going to lock them down that evening (around 9) because that was around the time I set them. It was around 7 that I found little "Early". So now I just wonder why it would hatch so early and if my other eggs are ok.

I'll probably water candle them if they don't hatch by saturday. It will break my heart if it has to be a lonely duck among chickens!

 

[StarMeKritten]

yeah, I probably will get a fan but I havn't had a problem with my temp at all or my humidity. I'm the one that stupidly added water and had the humidity around 55. Its possible they are just fine but just kinda feel that some are a little small on the air sacs. Not going to worry about it to much. Maybe I can look in at them a little more without hurting the humidity...lol Might help to lower it a little. Right now I cant move the eggs much inside, I have 26 eggs in the turner. I'm going to get rid of the eggs without life in a couple days and then will have more room.

Basically, I mean that when you take the eggs out to candle them, put them back in a different spot in the incubator. It will be hottest right under the heating element and cooler farther away from it. Put the ones that have been in a hotter area and put them in a cooler area and vice versa. Otherwise you'll end up with the ones in the hot spots hatching early and the ones in the cool spots hatching late. Don't worry too much about it, I have slightly staggered hatches pretty often because I have a tendency to keep adding eggs if there's room

. I don't worry too much about it if they are all hatching within the same week. I usually lock down on day 19 of the first group to hatch and then stop turning the rest then too so that I don't have to open the incubator. Turning is less crucial that last week.

I still need to re-candle the blue/ green ones that I was unsure of on day 7. I'm planning to do that tonight if I have time. My little broody silkie/ cochin mix has 3 chicks now. 1 black sex-link pullet and 2 from her and my buff orp rooster... which was a bizarre accident. They are the cutest little chicks though. I'm very curious to see what they'll look like as they grow up!

 

[Iko127]

Basically, I mean that when you take the eggs out to candle them, put them back in a different spot in the incubator. It will be hottest right under the heating element and cooler farther away from it. Put the ones that have been in a hotter area and put them in a cooler area and vice versa. Otherwise you'll end up with the ones in the hot spots hatching early and the ones in the cool spots hatching late. Don't worry too much about it, I have slightly staggered hatches pretty often because I have a tendency to keep adding eggs if there's room

. I don't worry too much about it if they are all hatching within the same week. I usually lock down on day 19 of the first group to hatch and then stop turning the rest then too so that I don't have to open the incubator. Turning is less crucial that last week.

I still need to re-candle the blue/ green ones that I was unsure of on day 7. I'm planning to do that tonight if I have time. My little broody silkie/ cochin mix has 3 chicks now. 1 black sex-link pullet and 2 from her and my buff orp rooster... which was a bizarre accident. They are the cutest little chicks though. I'm very curious to see what they'll look like as they grow up!

ok I get it... I will trade places around, if not before, I will on thursday! So exciting on the chicks! It will be neat to see the color they turn out.

 

[darkbluespace]

I'm so nervous! My duck eggs are due to hatch tomorrow and I'm worried. Here's the thing... Sunday (lockdown day) I looked through the window of the bator and an empty egg was staring at me!!! I found a perfectly dry little duckling stumbling around on the turner!!! It wasn't like that a few hours before. I was going to lock them down that evening (around 9) because that was around the time I set them. It was around 7 that I found little "Early". So now I just wonder why it would hatch so early and if my other eggs are ok.

I'll probably water candle them if they don't hatch by saturday. It will break my heart if it has to be a lonely duck among chickens!

Don't worry, sometimes one will be early and then all the rest will come on time!! I am sure your little ducky will get some friends soon!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I have 7 eggs in the hatcher that are due to hatch in exactly 19 hours. I just checked them and there's an external pip on one.

Trouble is, I was stupid and added an egg a day to the incubator for 5 days so I need to slip a couple more eggs in there or leave them in the incubator.

I have about 70 eggs in the incubator. I got a little smarter and only added eggs every 3 days after that foobar.

 

[Iko127]

I have 7 eggs in the hatcher that are due to hatch in exactly 19 hours. I just checked them and there's an external pip on one.

Trouble is, I was stupid and added an egg a day to the incubator for 5 days so I need to slip a couple more eggs in there or leave them in the incubator.

I have about 70 eggs in the incubator. I got a little smarter and only added eggs every 3 days after that foobar.

wow!! You are going to be busy! So exciting!! Good luck

 

[calichicken]

yeah, I probably will get a fan but I havn't had a problem with my temp at all or my humidity. I'm the one that stupidly added water and had the humidity around 55. Its possible they are just fine but just kinda feel that some are a little small on the air sacs. Not going to worry about it to much. Maybe I can look in at them a little more without hurting the humidity...lol Might help to lower it a little. Right now I cant move the eggs much inside, I have 26 eggs in the turner. I'm going to get rid of the eggs without life in a couple days and then will have more room.

Agree with @StarMeKitten, I stay at 40ish for the hatch and raise to 65-70% for the hatch. At day 10 and 12 you have time for those air sacs to grow as your eggs are still loosing moisture. I would just try to keep your humidity 35-40%. I have still air as well..oh and I keep my plugs on top open for the incubation and hatch. Are you candling today? I usually do on day 7 and then again on day 10 or 14 and one more time right before lockdown

 

[calichicken]

I'm so nervous! My duck eggs are due to hatch tomorrow and I'm worried. Here's the thing... Sunday (lockdown day) I looked through the window of the bator and an empty egg was staring at me!!! I found a perfectly dry little duckling stumbling around on the turner!!! It wasn't like that a few hours before. I was going to lock them down that evening (around 9) because that was around the time I set them. It was around 7 that I found little "Early". So now I just wonder why it would hatch so early and if my other eggs are ok.

I'll probably water candle them if they don't hatch by saturday. It will break my heart if it has to be a lonely duck among chickens!

Yes, they can arrive early...late..whenever they feel they are ready

This little one probably just developed a bit quicker and decided "I am outta this egg!!!!" Post a pic and enjoy

 

[calichicken]

I have 7 eggs in the hatcher that are due to hatch in exactly 19 hours. I just checked them and there's an external pip on one.

Trouble is, I was stupid and added an egg a day to the incubator for 5 days so I need to slip a couple more eggs in there or leave them in the incubator.

I have about 70 eggs in the incubator. I got a little smarter and only added eggs every 3 days after that foobar.

Yippieee!!! Chicks are on the way!!! So glad I don't have access to fertile eggs all the time or I would probably be adding all the time too

LOL...good luck with your eggs due soon!!!

 

[Iko127]

Agree with @StarMeKitten, I stay at 40ish for the hatch and raise to 65-70% for the hatch. At day 10 and 12 you have time for those air sacs to grow as your eggs are still loosing moisture. I would just try to keep your humidity 35-40%. I have still air as well..oh and I keep my plugs on top open for the incubation and hatch. Are you candling today? I usually do on day 7 and then again on day 10 or 14 and one more time right before lockdown

Yes I have my plugs open and will continue. I'm going to have to fight with my humidity a little since like a dummy I had just added water yesterday

I did candle!!

Its day 10 on the second group but was only day 12 on the first, but I couldn't help it...lol I do feel a little bit better on the second group, I think there might be 3 or 4 going good. Much better than none. The first group has 9 with one questionable on what its doing. I'm going to take a little more time on thursday, being day 14, and I will actually take out eggs that are bad. Still none smell bad or weeping so I should be good till then. I kinda feel like thursday will be my day to really see whats going on and Monday, which will be lock down, I will be taking out turner. I might have a couple eggs I will have to leave in egg carton for hatching but will see. I have one egg I'm a little concerned about. I noticed today that its air sac is completely on the side if not almost at other end. Not sure how that is but its not where all the others are and I believe it is a live chick.

I'm just to new at this with no knowledge of chickens so its hard for me to worry about to much of it. I will learn though...lol Give me most any other animal and I'm great but never hatched chicks! I also was wondering how everyone does or feels about merricks vaccine on day 1 for the chicks. I would like to do the rt thing but I never have given a chicken an injection before! lol I worked in vets office and on people but never a chicken