Eggs in Lockdown! Hatching Blog

[Miss Lydia]

Any progress?

 

[Canadian Wind]

DAY 31.5

Overnight, only one egg had an EP. Two eggs had no movement inside. I took matters into my own hands at this point. I didn't want to, but something had to be done. It took a lot for me to get to this point. I've seen enough horror stories on here about assisted hatches.

One duckling DIS, perfectly formed.

The egg that pipped externally on it's own I just enlarged my own little hole a wee bit. Keeping an eye on it.

The other three I carefully chipped away some shell and a bit of membrane, to ensure they can breathe. I am leaving it at that for the time being, and keeping an eagle eye on them.

This is really annoying. I need to go into town and get supplies. The dog is eating cat food. Well, he can start meowing, I can't leave until they get themselves out of their eggs.

 

[Canadian Wind]

If I ever decide to do this again, someone slap me please? Or tell me to get a few more thermometers...

 

[BelovedBirds]

DAY 31.5

Overnight, only one egg had an EP. Two eggs had no movement inside. I took matters into my own hands at this point. I didn't want to, but something had to be done. It took a lot for me to get to this point. I've seen enough horror stories on here about assisted hatches.

One duckling DIS, perfectly formed.

The egg that pipped externally on it's own I just enlarged my own little hole a wee bit. Keeping an eye on it.

The other three I carefully chipped away some shell and a bit of membrane, to ensure they can breathe. I am leaving it at that for the time being, and keeping an eagle eye on them.

This is really annoying. I need to go into town and get supplies. The dog is eating cat food. Well, he can start meowing, I can't leave until they get themselves out of their eggs.

One duckling dead?
I'm sorry Was there yolk left?

I hope the rest get to work soon! I have my fingers crossed for them.

 

[BelovedBirds]

If I ever decide to do this again, someone slap me please? Or tell me to get a few more thermometers...

It can be so stressful, I know. All Christmas day I was nauseous from the stress of Dougie hatching, until I eventually assisted her.
Christmas dinner was very unenjoyable

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

DAY 31.5

Overnight, only one egg had an EP. Two eggs had no movement inside. I took matters into my own hands at this point. I didn't want to, but something had to be done. It took a lot for me to get to this point. I've seen enough horror stories on here about assisted hatches.

One duckling DIS, perfectly formed.

The egg that pipped externally on it's own I just enlarged my own little hole a wee bit. Keeping an eye on it.

The other three I carefully chipped away some shell and a bit of membrane, to ensure they can breathe. I am leaving it at that for the time being, and keeping an eagle eye on them.

This is really annoying. I need to go into town and get supplies. The dog is eating cat food. Well, he can start meowing, I can't leave until they get themselves out of their eggs.

I had a horrible hatch my first time
My dunks eggs are small as she was new to laying. I learned wait till they get bigger
I had to assist most I lost 2 not knowing what I was doing
One I helped to much to fast and one was in the wrong end with a bruise and didn’t help soon enough only 2 hatched themselves and both were the bigger eggs of the group
Now her eggs hatch just fine on their own and I get very high hatch rates
I have had everything that can go wrong in an egg happen
But it’s so rewarding when you do get them hatched

 

[Canadian Wind]

One duckling dead?
I'm sorry Was there yolk left?

I hope the rest get to work soon! I have my fingers crossed for them.

Yeah, there was. And thank you. Not a nice way to start a day. :

 

[Canadian Wind]

I had a horrible hatch my first time
My dunks eggs are small as she was new to laying. I learned wait till they get bigger
I had to assist most I lost 2 not knowing what I was doing
One I helped to much to fast and one was in the wrong end with a bruise and didn’t help soon enough only 2 hatched themselves and both were the bigger eggs of the group
Now her eggs hatch just fine on their own and I get very high hatch rates
I have had everything that can go wrong in an egg happen
But it’s so rewarding when you do get them hatched

It's like giving birth. All that pain and screaming, yet we do it again (most people, anyhow).

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

Any updates ?

 

[Canadian Wind]

None that I want to report? Well, okay, one. Had one hatch with a bit of assistance. He spent the night in a cup to finish absorbing his yolk and is flopping around right now. Waiting on the one egg that pipped on it's own.

I am deeply ashamed to say that I made a lot of mistakes that culminated in the death of two of the other ducklings. The first being not having my incubator properly calibrated and depending on only one other thermometer and hydrometer for my readings. These babies were way behind in development, as attested by the lack of yolk absorption (even though the air cells and the candling appeared right on).

I am on the fence now about helping the one that is still hatching. He's peeping nice and loud but hadn't made any progress in chipping away his shell. I took the fragments away from where he'd already pipped (yes, two drakelings, none of the three girls made it) and he seems fine in there but I'm afraid of the membrane drying out. But I don't want to end up with a single duckling.

It's one of the reasons I didn't post much yesterday.

Hugs are appreciated, but I know I messed up.