Double Yolk Incubation Research Project

[littleprairieheartsfarm]

No, she’s actually not correct lol. If you pay attention to the two images of #6 you can see there’s one yolk on the blunt end, and one on the pointy end. They’re too far apart to get them in the same shot but they’re still there

If you can get me a picture that shows both within this egg, I will understand, but from this view, there is only one yolk. I understand you took a second picture but that one only showed just one as well.

And regarding this egg, it is going to be to small for a hatch. There is just not enough room for both embryos to hatch.

 

[MarlyMonster]

My double yolk experiment was also located on both ends of the egg, this was part of the problem when it came to hatching. Both chicks were fully developed, one internally pipped into the other’s yolk sac which killed that baby, and the other then suffocated. Neither one was in a position to where they could have successfully hatch because there was no room in egg.

Are you going to be monitoring the air cells sizes? Large air cells will cause embryonic death much before hatching, and this could lead to deformations if one does hatch.

The thing that greatly worries me is that they are ducks. The egg itself has to be an extremely large egg for chicks, but I’m not sure how ducks will work, especially since they sit in the air cell internally pipped for a least a day, mostly more, and I would imagine they would suffocate more times than not.

It’s not an easy job getting all the way to the end and then losing them! I didn’t even imagine that we would lose one of the other non-double egg either, but unfortunately we did. Do you have a plan for if only one duckling manages to hatch? What about if one hatches with deformations, like extra or missing limbs? (I find these unlikely but still plausible)

Yes air cell monitoring is one of my biggest things for these guys. I’ve drawn the size of it now and have charts of what it’s supposed to look like as the weeks go on. Also I plan on weighing them every week to make sure they’re losing the 2.8%, and depending on that I will adjust the humidity which will in turn also ensure the air cell is the proper size.

I also have a backup plan for the space issue. This batch is more of a test run to see where the issues lie, and the next one will address fixing those issues. I’ve got something in mind to fix the space inside the egg problem but I’m still not ready to execute it. Will share once I do though!

If only one manages to hatch I see no reason to not keep it. And if there’s deformities it’ll depend on their quality of life, but unfortunately the humane thing to do would be to cull the deformed chicks
Though I’m also fair that if they seem to function perfectly normal even with an extra appendage who am I to decide to end their life y’know? It’s all about quality of life. If I do manage to hatch a set of twins success I’m keeping one pair myself to monitor their progress into adulthood (because that’s an important factor too) and should I get more than I anticipated for some reason I’ve already found a wonderful home for them to go to where they’ll be treated as loving pets

 

[MarlyMonster]

View attachment 1610971
If you can get me a picture that shows both within this egg, I will understand, but from this view, there is only one yolk. I understand you took a second picture but that one only showed just one as well.

And regarding this egg, it is going to be to small for a hatch. There is just not enough room for both embryos to hatch.

This is the one of the embryo in the tip, the other picture clearly shows another embryo near the blunt end. If you compare the pictures it’s obvious they can’t be the same one. In the picture of #1 you can see both clearly though. 6 just has them on complete opposite ends. I’m also aware of the space issue, which is why I have a plan to fix that for the next batch. This is a control group to pinpoint the problems so I can find solutions for those during the second round. 6 is definitely one of my smaller ones but I still have high hopes for all of my babies

Will post more pictures as I take them. Day 7 will be a day where everyone is weighed and candled again so I’ll be taking pictures of everyone

 

[MarlyMonster]

Its a cool experiment, thats why I am following it. I like when people learn through experimenting, then if your results are good I may just copy it. Good Luck! and my the Chicken Force be with you!

Haha thank you so much! If all goes well I’ll be writing an article with the exact methods so copying won’t be a problem!

 

[littleprairieheartsfarm]

Yes air cell monitoring is one of my biggest things for these guys. I’ve drawn the size of it now and have charts of what it’s supposed to look like as the weeks go on. Also I plan on weighing them every week to make sure they’re losing the 2.8%, and depending on that I will adjust the humidity which will in turn also ensure the air cell is the proper size.

I also have a backup plan for the space issue. This batch is more of a test run to see where the issues lie, and the next one will address fixing those issues. I’ve got something in mind to fix the space inside the egg problem but I’m still not ready to execute it. Will share once I do though!

If only one manages to hatch I see no reason to not keep it. And if there’s deformities it’ll depend on their quality of life, but unfortunately the humane thing to do would be to cull the deformed chicks
Though I’m also fair that if they seem to function perfectly normal even with an extra appendage who am I to decide to end their life y’know? It’s all about quality of life. If I do manage to hatch a set of twins success I’m keeping one pair myself to monitor their progress into adulthood (because that’s an important factor too) and should I get more than I anticipated for some reason I’ve already found a wonderful home for them to go to where they’ll be treated as loving pets

Good deal on the air cells, that seems to be the greatest issue when it comes to people trying to hatch them. Most treat them like regular eggs, but that’s not the case.

I’m glad you have back up plans, and the ability to cull when needed. Unfortunately with doubles that’s just the way things work, but I’m hoping you have a successful hatch! If we can get these things to be down to an almost science, then hatching rates would skyrocket!

One other thing! I know you’ll want to candle as often as possible(I know I did!), but I promise the eggs will do better if you leave them in a consistent setting. This is where I wish I had one of those super fancy incubators that had built in candlers.

 

[littleprairieheartsfarm]

This is the one of the embryo in the tip, the other picture clearly shows another embryo near the blunt end. If you compare the pictures it’s obvious they can’t be the same one. In the picture of #1 you can see both clearly though. 6 just has them on complete opposite ends. I’m also aware of the space issue, which is why I have a plan to fix that for the next batch. This is a control group to pinpoint the problems so I can find solutions for those during the second round. 6 is definitely one of my smaller ones but I still have high hopes for all of my babies

Will post more pictures as I take them. Day 7 will be a day where everyone is weighed and candled again so I’ll be taking pictures of everyone

I’ll be watching patiently. I know you’ll show me there is two but I just can’t see it from that angle.

When candling, make sure you don’t turn the eggs around. Keep them the same side up, move the candler tool around instead of the egg. A tip I learned from @Texas Kiki !

Oh! Speaking of control groups, do you know the hatch rate of the owner of the eggs? Do they normally have a 80% or higher hatch?

I will be watching this thread, and keeping my fingers crossed that there is some hatchlings!

 

[MarlyMonster]

Good deal on the air cells, that seems to be the greatest issue when it comes to people trying to hatch them. Most treat them like regular eggs, but that’s not the case.

I’m glad you have back up plans, and the ability to cull when needed. Unfortunately with doubles that’s just the way things work, but I’m hoping you have a successful hatch! If we can get these things to be down to an almost science, then hatching rates would skyrocket!

One other thing! I know you’ll want to candle as often as possible(I know I did!), but I promise the eggs will do better if you leave them in a consistent setting. This is where I wish I had one of those super fancy incubators that had built in candlers.

I’ve got about 20 pages of notes I researched before starting the experiment cuz I figured doubles will also be double the risk of problems!

Culling wouldn’t be fun but it seems unfair to keep a chick alive for my selfish reasons
Not looking forward to that but gotta do whatcha gotta do!

Haha yes it’s so hard not to candle all the time! I only check a couple every once in a while but leave them pretty much alone except to turn them. Monday will be candle/weighing day for everyone! The good thing is that duck eggs need to be cooled so I won’t hsve to worry too much about them being out too long when I do that.

 

[MarlyMonster]

I’ll be watching patiently. I know you’ll show me there is two but I just can’t see it from that angle.

When candling, make sure you don’t turn the eggs around. Keep them the same side up, move the candler tool around instead of the egg. A tip I learned from @Texas Kiki !

Oh! Speaking of control groups, do you know the hatch rate of the owner of the eggs? Do they normally have a 80% or higher hatch?

I will be watching this thread, and keeping my fingers crossed that there is some hatchlings!

Oh never heard about the not turning when candling, what’s the reasoning behind that? Sounds fascinating!

The hatchery I got them from have an extremely high hatch rate, like 90% I believe.
Picked the guys brain a little on his methods and made notes! The only thing I’m not doing the same is humidity, because the thread I read about Muscovy incubation said to start dry and adjust according to weight loss, so I’ll be adjusting on Monday. My humidity is at 10% right now so way too low, but I’ve read it’s better to adjust once you know the weight they’re losing so I’m trying to hold steady and not change things before Monday!

 

[MarlyMonster]

For those who were skeptical about #6 being a double, here’s a picture I just took of it.

You can’t see the veins because like I said, they’re too far apart to see clearly. But at least now I’ve proven it’s indeed a double as well.

#1 however has very clear veins starting to grow in both embryos! Yay!!

 

[littleprairieheartsfarm]

For those who were skeptical about #6 being a double, here’s a picture I just took of it.

View attachment 1611012

You can’t see the veins because like I said, they’re too far apart to see clearly. But at least now I’ve proven it’s indeed a double as well.

View attachment 1611011

#1 however has very clear veins starting to grow in both embryos! Yay!!

There we go! Now I see both. Look at the double spider on #1.

Oh never heard about the not turning when candling, what’s the reasoning behind that? Sounds fascinating!

The hatchery I got them from have an extremely high hatch rate, like 90% I believe.
Picked the guys brain a little on his methods and made notes! The only thing I’m not doing the same is humidity, because the thread I read about Muscovy incubation said to start dry and adjust according to weight loss, so I’ll be adjusting on Monday. My humidity is at 10% right now so way too low, but I’ve read it’s better to adjust once you know the weight they’re losing so I’m trying to hold steady and not change things before Monday!

The reasoning is you are more likely to cause a sticking embryo due to the sudden movements, mostly it’s more important for when they get closer to hatching because you don’t want to mis-position them.
You seem like you have a great plan!