Candling fertile eggs and how to tell if one isn't going to make it/didn't make it?

[WVduckchick]

Odd number - great! Also when you candle, do it from both ends. You will see more activity when they start moving when you candle from the air cell end, but the pointed end needs to be watched too. Ducks are very active when you candle between days 12-20. You will be amazed!

 

[chickmomma03]

It's harder to candle on the pointed end. I'll do it, but I'm going to have to navigate carefully through figuring that one out (I'm so scared of dropping the egg, that's why I've been setting it down if I can!)

 

[Lacrystol]

I made a O on the one side and X on the other, no other marks. I thought blood rings were suppose to be full circle? This one has breaks in it like the first one did at early development, that's where I'm puzzled. I've had a harder time actually seeing into that egg than the other for some reason. I'm not sure if it's that I'm not candling it properly or not. I've had a hard time finding pictures online but the ones I found of blood rings didn't match

Your first egg looks like a quitter

 

[Lacrystol]

It's harder to candle on the pointed end. I'll do it, but I'm going to have to navigate carefully through figuring that one out (I'm so scared of dropping the egg, that's why I've been setting it down if I can!)

It's best to lick your fingers when handling the eggs this way they won't slip out of your hands and it will give you a better grip.

 

[chickmomma03]

I wash my hands right before handling, and right after. I read about introducing bacteria to the eggs, and I didn't want to risk it (I handle chickens too, so don't want to carry anything to the chickens) so I just wash before and after. I'm literally just afraid of my clumsy self.

I did end up tossing egg 1 this morning (tough decision, but I don't want contamination to the good egg from explosion or anything). Poor sweet little thing had no clear blood vessels, all that was there was a very light dot in the middle and the ring. I couldn't bring myself to crack it open to examine it. Hopefully egg 2 (my only one left) will continue to thrive. I can see the little heart beating and it's really amazing to be able to experience!

 

[JadeComputerGal]

I keep a spray bottle of Brinsea disinfecting solution in our hatching room. One of the things I use it for it to spray it on my hands after washing them and before and during handling eggs. I spray it on my palms and rub my palms together like you do with a hand sanitizer. That keeps my hands slightly damp for a few minutes and makes it easier to handle the eggs without them slipping. I also use it before turning because I have trouble turning the eggs without picking them up when my hands are completely dry.

 

[WVduckchick]

I wash my hands right before handling, and right after. I read about introducing bacteria to the eggs, and I didn't want to risk it (I handle chickens too, so don't want to carry anything to the chickens) so I just wash before and after. I'm literally just afraid of my clumsy self.

I did end up tossing egg 1 this morning (tough decision, but I don't want contamination to the good egg from explosion or anything). Poor sweet little thing had no clear blood vessels, all that was there was a very light dot in the middle and the ring. I couldn't bring myself to crack it open to examine it. Hopefully egg 2 (my only one left) will continue to thrive. I can see the little heart beating and it's really amazing to be able to experience!

I'm sorry..

 

[chickmomma03]

Thanks. It's kind of sad, but hey, I still have 1 little duckie that's doing great! It looks like the membrane might have been ruptured somehow (It didn't look even like the other one, there were a couple "ripple" looking places that I must have missed before. I don't have ANY idea how it could have happened because I have been THE only person handling the eggs and I did NOT drop it. Maybe I just didn't notice it before since I'm still new to candling?

 

[WVduckchick]

Could have gotten kicked around in the yard, could have gotten too hot... all kinds of possibilities. Did you ask about getting more eggs? Ducklings don't do as well alone as with friends....

 

[chickmomma03]

No, I haven't yet. Hopefully will see the neighbor this afternoon (I texted with her yesterday, but don't plan on asking her through text about eggs, I love my neighbor but I'm nervous about how she's going to respond even though she said I could have the eggs). I'm thinking once the duckling is big enough about putting him or her in with the chickens. Not sure yet. I haven't seen anything advising against it. I might build a little house for him or her, but whatever I do I have to protect him or her from my dog (I'm not sure how I'd go about it if I had to keep the duck separate from the chickens because I used most of the chicken wire on the chickens and chicken wire wasn't cheap). My dog is a hunting breed, and she goes after cats, squirrels, birds, and when we tried to introduce her (with STRICT supervision) to the chickens she tried to bite their heads off (more than once). Not a playful/motherly grab either. So the only thing she's allowed to do is go outside and patrol the yard for predators, she has no access to the chickens!

The only thing I can think of is her dogs might have knocked some of them around before I gathered them. Her ducks free roam within the fence, and the female just lays them wherever. The dogs free roam where their collar allows them (which is pretty much the whole back yard), so the eggs really aren't safe from their reach (which is why I had suggested them making a nesting box, I even told them a cheap idea, but I'm not going to push the issue). The duck seems to like to lay the eggs mostly around the deck area, but laid a few of the ones I found near the kids' play set.

On a funny note, the male duck bit my dog's side of her face the other day. It wasn't really funny that she got bit, but it was funny how it happened. She was standing near the fence minding her own business. Normally she barks at/tries to run the fence with the ducks. The male reached through the fence and all of a sudden just bites her. I was like what in the world. She wasn't even doing anything lol. Now she stands farther back from the fence and if she sees the male duck backs up rather than charges toward to run with. I did catch her one day trying to kiss the duck too lol