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

[WVduckchick]

Awww, that sounds cute. My yard is picket fenced, and the duck pen and chicken pens are separate within the picket fence line. My dogs also have collars, which used to run around the picket fence (pre-duck/chickens) but we ran the dog fence along the pens now. When I am home, I let the chickens out in the whole picket fence area. The dogs will sometimes trot after them, but won't really bite at them. One of my dogs has occasionally gotten a bite of tail feathers, but I think he just likes to watch them try to fly away! He doesn't continue to chase them. The other one will lay around and let the chicks peck him, and he won't even move! The younger chicks go through the pickets to get away from the older chickens, too. I haven't tried letting the ducks out yet, because I'm not sure what the dogs would do. Probably the same that they do with the chicks. I do know that ducks will lay wherever they want to, no matter where you try to get them to lay.

There are lots of threads about mixing chicks and ducks, and I'm sure some folks do it successfully, but its not highly recommended. There are some things to watch out for, so do your homework. For example, ducks must have water deep enough to immerse their entire bill, they have to keep their nares cleaned out. Chicks can use water-nipples and such, but ducks can't. And ducks get the water filthy in no time!

 

[chickmomma03]

Oh I know just how quickly the water gets filthy in the duck pool! I took care of my neighbor's ducks all week (dogs, cats, and fish too). I changed the water out ever other day, it was gross. I think they pooed in it a ton, or at least it looked like it (some of it just looked like dirt from the ground, the rest looked like poop).

I plan to check the chicken and duck merging threads. My chickens don't have the nipple waterers. I didn't like the way they looked and was worried about proper hydration. So I decided on a type that has a tray. I bought a matching feeder that has the tray too, but it has a separator piece in it so they can't just knock the food everywhere and they don't even try to scratch at it like they did when they were chicks and had just a shallow dish for feed. I keep forgetting to "hang" the feeder and waterer (low to the ground), it's on my to do list. They keep kicking dirt and straw into it. There's probably a thread about that on here I haven't found yet either (I haven't had too much time to explore yet, between a homeschool kiddo who has autism, a dog, 11 chickens, a garden, a duck egg, and a house to take care of as a single momma I get a little busy ). You guys are really awesome! I'm so glad I finally joined the group! <3 I appreciate everyone's help, advice, and support! <3

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Oh I know just how quickly the water gets filthy in the duck pool! I took care of my neighbor's ducks all week (dogs, cats, and fish too). I changed the water out ever other day, it was gross. I think they pooed in it a ton, or at least it looked like it (some of it just looked like dirt from the ground, the rest looked like poop).

I plan to check the chicken and duck merging threads. My chickens don't have the nipple waterers. I didn't like the way they looked and was worried about proper hydration. So I decided on a type that has a tray. I bought a matching feeder that has the tray too, but it has a separator piece in it so they can't just knock the food everywhere and they don't even try to scratch at it like they did when they were chicks and had just a shallow dish for feed. I keep forgetting to "hang" the feeder and waterer (low to the ground), it's on my to do list. They keep kicking dirt and straw into it. There's probably a thread about that on here I haven't found yet either (I haven't had too much time to explore yet, between a homeschool kiddo who has autism, a dog, 11 chickens, a garden, a duck egg, and a house to take care of as a single momma I get a little busy ). You guys are really awesome! I'm so glad I finally joined the group! <3 I appreciate everyone's help, advice, and support! <3

I think you're awesome and will be a great duck mom! How does the kiddo do with the pets? I've read that pets can be very helpful to children with autism. Many congratulations to you for doing all this on your own!

 

[WVduckchick]

I think you're awesome and will be a great duck mom! How does the kiddo do with the pets? I've read that pets can be very helpful to children with autism. Many congratulations to you for doing all this on your own!

x2!

 

[chickmomma03]

Awww thanks guys. <3 He loves to look at them, but he's not keen on touching them. He's afraid they're going to peck him, even though I've showed him they don't peck me (plus, he doesn't like things in his personal space). I had HOPED he would be a little more attached to them (maybe he is and he just doesn't show it the same as I do), he's extremely attached to the dog (she sleeps in his room at night in her little bed right next to his), but I'm not sure he's bonded the same to them (though, he really doesn't pet the dog much either, unless it's with his foot, when he wants, and he doesn't like her jumping on him or licking him). He thinks the chickens are loud. He WILL give them treats, but not by hand, he tosses it out onto the ground for them (I do a mix of both myself). Since I wanted it to be fun for him I haven't "made" him take on any "yucky" responsibilities with them. He does help, but I don't have him help with coop cleaning (poop). He helps with watering and feeding (not every day, but some days, which is great). If that's kind of rambly sounding, sorry.

 

[chickmomma03]

So just a little update. I DID talk to my neighbor, showed her some of the pictures, and she was actually stoked. She let me go out and check for eggs, unfortunately there weren't anymore right now because they had already collected and the 1 egg that they set on the counter is missing (maybe the kids picked it up is the thought since it didn't splatter anywhere and they didn't put it in the fridge). They DID say I can come check for more though so that's kewl too They want to learn about candling to check for fertility and stuff like that too. They talked about a nesting box again and I told them what I knew about making a simple and inexpensive one even if they don't want her to hatch any of them (for easier collection).

Oh, and off topic, but my dog showed up on their porch! I called the house and was like, um, Biscuit is on the porch, she's not suppose to leave the yard if you're out with her. They ended up letting her in the house and she met their dogs AND cats for the first time. She didn't try to eat their cats (that's huge for her)! Wahoo!

 

[Lacrystol]

The term "blood ring" is really a little misleading since a blood ring doesn't always form a full circle. I'm very sorry, but that really does look like a blood ring to me. I'd keep it just a few more days to see how it looks. You do have one egg, though, that looks like something that's going to give you a sweet little duckie!!!

Agree, it does not always form a ring

 

[Lacrystol]

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!

the only way to learn and correct things is by examining what went wrong. BUt I can also understand not wanting to do it.

 

[Lacrystol]

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.

EXACTLY, you want them slightly damp

 

[Lacrystol]

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?

Ruptured?? Do you have a pic/