- Apr 28, 2013
- 21
- 0
- 24
Hello. I am on day 20 of my first chick/duck hatching attempt. Let me start by explaining what I have done and then maybe I can get some feedback on what I have done wrong or what was just bad luck. I have a little giant 9200 (the $50 from TSC). I have it in a closet in the house so the temp stays rather steady. I put about 12 chick eggs and 3 duck eggs. The temp on this machine is very hard to keep steady but I watched it very well. Once or twice it spiked up over 110 but for only small amounts of time. I did dry incubation until lockdown on day 18. I then added some water in a couple baby food jars with paper towels rolled up sticking out of the jar. I read this was a good method. I have just been opening the edge to turn the duck eggs since they take longer to hatch. Within 12 hrs of lockdown I had my first hatch. It is in great condition still (it's been about 30 hrs since hatched). The next one hatched about 6 hrs later. This one appears to have one bad leg and maybe both.
The third was "born" a couple hours later. *I am sure my wife and I screwed up here and we feel terrible about it* There was a small hole in the shell for hours and it was chirping but not breaking through. My wife thought we should help it. She chipped away some of the egg so we could see it and maybe it could free itself... I KNOW... THIS WAS A TERRIBLE IDEA AND I REALLY DID LEARN MY LESSON.
After many hours of watching the little bird kick its one leg with its head and body stuck to the shell we decided to try and free it. Sadly, it was stuck and could not be freed. I read several forums and watched a couple videos about things to try but it really looked like the chick was just not fully formed and ready to hatch. I euthanized it.
So, now I have the 1 chick with the bad leg(s) still in the incubator and moved the healthy one to the brooded. There are still several eggs in the incubator. Chick eggs and duck eggs.
So, that's where I am at. I would just REALLY like some feedback. I am very upset with myself at the moment because of the chick that I had to kill. I want to do that as little as possible. I'm not sure what to do about the chick with the bad leg(s)? Any advice from some experienced people would be great! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!
So, that's where I am at. I would just REALLY like some feedback. I am very upset with myself at the moment because of the chick that I had to kill. I want to do that as little as possible. I'm not sure what to do about the chick with the bad leg(s)? Any advice from some experienced people would be great! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!