candle pics

[davekrista]

Well I'm on day 2 of my duck eggs that are supposed to be hatching "soon" - I just got them and have no idea how far they are. Can anyone tell by he candling? Also I have no idea how to tell if live or dead. This is my first hatch and since I just got them from a friend of a friend, I have no clue with these ones. I was going to have my hen hatch them but it didn't work out so I have a makeshift incubator so I'm not sure if any will make it........ Please help with any info on my candling pics as to live or dead and possible "age"..

egg #1 pic 1

egg #1 pic 2

egg #2 pic 1 - the black spots on the egg #2 pics are poop on the outside of the shell

egg#2 pic 2

egg #2 pic 3

egg #3 pic 1

egg#3 pic 2

any ideas??????

 

[katharinad]

Hard to tell. I'm a little bit concerned that the white area is darker then the rest. It will get dark once the duckling expands into the white area. Best is to check the crack. If liquid is coming out that smells bad then it is dead. If there is no leak, then listen for a tapping sound from inside.

To your other question in the other tread. Eggs should lay on their sides with the wide spot a little bit elevated. The elevated part may be impossible as the duckling will move the egg. So on the side should be fine.

 

[FunnyBunnies12]

The pictures are really hard to tell, but if you go to Metzer Farms on this link on candling this is a great way to know how far along they are http://www.metzerfarms.com/Candling.cfm?CustID=150614

Also, I've tried the flashlight, the hole cut out in the box, ect, but I found myself this candling light that is the best candling devise I've tried yet that does allow me to try see my eggs very well.
https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=283

These are my eggs that I've candled with that light.

DAY 6 https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/66568_img00439-20100919-1141_2.jpg

DAY 12 https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/66568_img00481-20100924-1937.jpg

Day 6 & Day 12 is the same egg. In just 6 days the difference and how fast they develop. That cool light truly helps, because I hold the egg with my fingers and hold the light at the top of the egg and you can see up/down the egg very well, even on day 4 you can just start making out veins.

 

[davekrista]

the crack is NOT oozing anything, and i have smelled it and no fowl odor at all coming from it.....I put it to my ear and didn't really hear anything, but i had the bucket on the counter this morning and my daughter thought she had heard chirping (very faintly) while she was having breakfast, and later in the afternoon when my kids were in school, I could have sworn i heard faint chirping as well, and thought i was going crazy.... I will keep my ears open after every one goes to bed and the house is quiet to see if i can hear anything......

 

[katharinad]

Great. Yes, they do chirp when they move into the air sack. They also sleep in between and that's when you don't hear tapping. You should see some progress on the hole tomorrow.

As for candling the eggs. I don't like the candler's that go hot, because they can hurt ducklings. I went to walmart into the camping section and got the led flashlight with the highest lumen. They don't get hot at all and work well. Besides that you don't see much once they are 2.5-3 weeks along anyway. It just gets dark and all you can see is the air sack and perhaps some movement around the air sack.

 

[davekrista]

Katharina, thanks for all the help and info you have given me the last couple of days. I'm still worried about them making it but talking to you has given me hope. Thank you for keeping my head on and not going into panic mode. This truely has been a learning experience and I am thinking I want to hatch more. As worried as I am about these little guys, I think it is so cool at the same time. Its weird and great at the same time..... I will be anxious for morning to come so I can see the hopeful progress. Thanks again

 

[katharinad]

I will try to walk you through this from long distance. It's not always easy, but hey we are working on it to our best capabilities. This duckling should be out soon. Do not rush it, because it has to absorb its yolk and umbilical cord blood. Ducks are very slow in comparison to chicken or quail eggs. It had piped the shell, so it is getting air. That is one major hurdle in the hatching process, so I'm glad to hear that it has succeeded. The next will be cracking the shell open and come out. This is where the humidity plays a big roll and you should avoid any short term humidity drops. Anyway tomorrow it should start cracking the shell open in a circle matter around. By Sunday it should be out. If it is not out by Sunday then we may need to intervene and help. I know you will keep me posted with what is happening. Today I didn't get to the computer, because I had to drive 3 hours north to see a knee specialist. We were gone all day, and now I'm tired.

Funnybunny is also in the learning process, and I know she will go bananas when it comes to hatching day. I need to send her some duct tape so she stops candling all the time. It has become an obsession with her. Handcuffs may be better.

 

[davekrista]

Yes, I have to keep myself from candling too much too. I held off all day but was worried about the fowl odor so i gave in and candled...... I am heading to bed right now, well after a temp check then I will definately keep you posted what tomorrow brings... I'm hoping i won't need to intervene and it can get out on its own. I do have errands to run tomorrow but i plan on being in and out to check on things and I will post when I can.

 

[katharinad]

Get some regular niacin and some poly vi sol baby vitamin drops without iron, unless you have some bird vitamins and electrolytes on hand. They may need a little bit extra to get started after all the bad thing they have been through.

 

[davekrista]

I checked this morning and no change at all. The crack looks the same as it did yesterday morning (around 8 am) so its been 24 hours and no change.... should I start to worry now?