Double Yolk Incubation Research Project

[MarlyMonster]

If they were my eggs i would be taking #9, #1, and #6 out. You can kind of trust your gut once you get the hang of candling, but it takes experience so its always good to err on the side of caution and give them an extra day. However, no veins, movement, development, or liveliness is a pretty good indication of loss. And to answer your question, the eggs will continue to change in weight and air cell size even after they’ve passed, that is NOT a good indication of life. The bacteria are trying to get the egg to decompose so its weight and aircell will change even when its not alive.

Your comment is extremely helpful, I really appreciate you clarifying things! Had no idea that the air cell and weight keep changing, it’s good to know I can’t base things off that. I was gonna take 9 out today but couldn’t do it cuz it’s Christmas lol. So tomorrow I will and check 1 and 6 again. Just ordered a strong candler actually with a 2 day rush so I’ll be able to clearly see what’s going on I hope.

Hope you keep following to help with future questions (which I know I’ll have lol) cuz you’ve been extremely helpful!

Merry Christmas ^_^

 

[MarlyMonster]

I have also observed that embryos that have recently died will still have veins, as they don’t magically disappear, but they will get more and more faint each day and have a cloudy appearance versus the bright pink/red of a developing embryo.

Eta:
Eventually it will get too hard to see into the egg in the final stages. During this time i shine the light through the air cell or the narrow end of the egg to see where i can get any light through, and just look for healthy looking veins. You wont see movement until they start pushing against the aircell trying to make the internal pip (lockdown). With double yolkers assisting will be tricky. You dont want to help to early because they can die from blood loss if you crack the shell on a vein and break it. The best thing to do to avoid assisting too early is to give yourself peace of mind by making a tint tiny safe hole where the aircell end of the egg is, no bigger than the tip of a pencil. This gives the babies (or baby, since only one will be in the optimal position to access air through the aircell) access to air and will make you less antsy to assist thinking that they are going to suffocate. The baby at the narrow end of the egg will have to pip its way through the shell WITHOUT getting that first breath from the internal pip. They are not always very likely to accomplish this, but ive seen it happen with single yolkers that were malpositioned in the egg. If you’re extra observant, keep an eye out for stains on the eggshell in the narrow end. This happens when the baby is trying to poke his way out and the moisture from the membranes and such leaves a little stain. I dont have a picture but it wont be very obvious, just a discolored patch. If you do see it appear, you can try chipping away at that mark CAREFULLY! Just the shell, not the membrane. If you’re right, you will see the babys bill and you can break the membrane so it can breathe, but if not the membrane is still intact so it shouldnt be a big deal.

Sorry this is a little early haha, you can come back to it when the time comes and ill see if i can find the article i read that helped me tremendously.

May I just say that you’re my hero right now and please don’t leave me cuz I’m gonna need your help lol
I’ve been assuming I’ll have to help the hatch so I practiced on a regular egg before and later on number 8 when I removed it to make a tiny hole without breaking the membrane in case the twin at the wrong end needs help. I’ll try again when I take 9 out tomorrow. Went alright but I know I’m gonna be so nervous for the real thing! I also plan on getting bacitracin cuz I read in someone’s article that’s better to use cuz it keeps the membrane moist longer
I’m gonna be pet sitting 15-20 minutes down the road for friends so at least I won’t be sitting next to the bator losing my mind, I’ll just drive back and forth every few hours to see if they need help. I’ll also be installing a webcam with live feed for me to keep an eye on them so I can always rush over in case of emergency. If I can make it happen (not super tech savvy but I have geeky friends ) I might even try to make it so you guys could watch along too! Not sure how it would work but I might as well try haha.

Again, I really appreciate your input and advice on this! Hope you keep following till the end ^_^

 

[aart]

The bacteria are trying to get the egg to decompose so its weight and aircell will change even when its not alive.

.....and just plain old evaporation.

 

[iluvsedward]

.....and just plain old evaporation.

Yes that too haha

 

[Cyprus]

Never heard of double yolk duck egg hatching.
@WVduckchick , have you?

I have twice

 

[MarlyMonster]

I have twice

Have they been posted on the site? Haven’t been able to find any instances of duck twins!

 

[SueT]

I followed a double duck hatching thread 3 or 4 years ago. They were call ducks, one duckling survived. I don't remember who what where or when.

 

[Cyprus]

Have they been posted on the site? Haven’t been able to find any instances of duck twins!

Oh I meant for chickens, sorry.

 

[MarlyMonster]

I followed a double duck hatching thread 3 or 4 years ago. They were call ducks, one duckling survived. I don't remember who what where or when.

Aww too bad

I’ve been trying to find as much info as I can on them but all I’ve found is about double chicks and even those are rare

 

[MarlyMonster]

Oh I meant for chickens, sorry.

Oh yeah I did see those! There’s those videos of them online I believe, the one of the southern lady is very helpful cuz it shows the assistance they need