Desperately Trying to Hatch Ducklings

[WVduckchick]

To each their own. I'm not an expert. Just say what worked for me. Incubating seems to vary a bunch person to person.

I was trying to be helpful, not critical.

 

[casportpony]

To me assisting is part art, part science with no truly set rules other than if you see blood/veins, stop and don't cover with a wet towel.

 

[ColleenRyan]

Of course I couldn’t resist putting only one or two eggs on the candler this morning and I swear I one I saw the little redder formation moving a little. It’s still so tiny but it almost looked like a beating heart and it made me so excited. I’m trying not to get my hopes up though.

I dropped off the remainder of the eggs (about 12) to my friends farm and her chicken instantly sat on them and covered them all up. Those were the ones I thought were older but we’ll see what happens! I know success rates rapidly decline after day 1,2,3 but has anyone ever had luck hatching older eggs?

 

[ColleenRyan]

Some of us like to candle sooner.

I’m just a first timer and if these don’t work I don’t see myself hatching again because I can’t handle the heartbreak of losing my babies These eggs are so special because they were my girls

 

[ColleenRyan]

To me assisting is part art, part science with no truly set rules other than if you see blood/veins, stop and don't cover with a wet towel.

Is this referring to the hatching process??

 

[chickens really]

Is this referring to the hatching process??

Yes...Some like to over assist eggs in hatching and really not necessary as eggs have hatched for thousands of years without human intervention...
The thing is if things go wrong the Ducklings suffer..

 

[casportpony]

Is this referring to the hatching process??

I guess yes to the whole incubation process, but my comment was more about assisting when they can't break out of the shell on their own. Hopefully you will not have to deal with this, but if you do, there is a great article to read.

 

[casportpony]

Of course I couldn’t resist putting only one or two eggs on the candler this morning and I swear I one I saw the little redder formation moving a little. It’s still so tiny but it almost looked like a beating heart and it made me so excited. I’m trying not to get my hopes up though.

I dropped off the remainder of the eggs (about 12) to my friends farm and her chicken instantly sat on them and covered them all up. Those were the ones I thought were older but we’ll see what happens! I know success rates rapidly decline after day 1,2,3 but has anyone ever had luck hatching older eggs?

Oldest egg I hatched was 19, 20, or 21 days old (I don't remember).

 

[casportpony]

@ColleenRyan , here is that article I mentioned. Please of read it, but don't assume that you will have to assist any of yours. If you do get the urge to assist, talk to @WVduckchick or @Pyxis before you do anything.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[chickens really]

@ColleenRyan , here is that article I mentioned. Please of read it, but don't assume that you will have to assist any of yours. If you do get the urge to assist talk to @WVduckchick or @Pyxis before you do anything.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

Yes...Or me because I have hatched many myself without assistance and only have had to assist a few..Its really easy with the right help..