Hands on hatching and help

[Sarkchick]

OH don't give him any credit, He complains, whines the whole 9 yards but puts up with it because I take care of them all.. I'm collecting duck eggs but MAN I can't find them. But today, I found one and it was COVERED with ice, I'm still going to try and hatch it. LOL 

A couple of the Pekin eggs from my first hatch this year were covered in frost. They all hatched by had to help several. Maybe that was why. Never thought about it. Good luck finding more eggs. When I'm home they get locked up at night. They would always lay in 2 large rubber tubs about 4 inches deep. We have a lot of possums and raccoons in our area. But since I'm only home about a hour a day I left them loose in a large pen with the geese.

 

[BigWeenMachine]

Hey guys, I am getting my FI bator ready for lockdown tomorrow. Since the floor in the bator is so low beneath the screen the eggs will lie on, I can't find an extra container for water to get my humidity up that will fit under the screen. So, my fix was to put an ice tray on top of the screen and start filling up squares in it until I hit my target humidity of 75 %. When those ducks start to hatch, is it okay if they drink the distilled water or will it hurt them??? Or maybe, is it bad to have water available to the chicks so soon after they hatch??? Lemme know what you guys think. My other option would be to go to town and get a funnel with a hose on it that will fit in my vent and then feed that down to a wet paper towel as needed.

 

[BigWeenMachine]

Also, my bator's instructions say to open one vent during hatching and the 2nd once they hatch so they can dry. Is that necessary? I would rather not open it since it is easier to hold the humidity where I want it without the vent open....

 

[caesargirl]

Hey guys, I am getting my FI bator ready for lockdown tomorrow.  Since the floor in the bator is so low beneath the screen the eggs will lie on, I can't find an extra container for water to get my humidity up that will fit under the screen.  So, my fix was to put an ice tray on top of the screen and start filling up squares in it until I hit my target humidity of 75 %.  When those ducks start to hatch, is it okay if they drink the distilled water or will it hurt them???  Or maybe, is it bad to have water available to the chicks so soon after they hatch???  Lemme know what you guys think.  My other option would be to go to town and get a funnel with a hose on it that will fit in my vent and then feed that down to a wet paper towel as needed.

I've seen people use aquarium air tubing with puppy feeding syringes to put water in. The tubes fit in the vents.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hey guys, I am getting my FI bator ready for lockdown tomorrow. Since the floor in the bator is so low beneath the screen the eggs will lie on, I can't find an extra container for water to get my humidity up that will fit under the screen. So, my fix was to put an ice tray on top of the screen and start filling up squares in it until I hit my target humidity of 75 %. When those ducks start to hatch, is it okay if they drink the distilled water or will it hurt them??? Or maybe, is it bad to have water available to the chicks so soon after they hatch??? Lemme know what you guys think. My other option would be to go to town and get a funnel with a hose on it that will fit in my vent and then feed that down to a wet paper towel as needed.

Also, my bator's instructions say to open one vent during hatching and the 2nd once they hatch so they can dry. Is that necessary? I would rather not open it since it is easier to hold the humidity where I want it without the vent open....

Those babies need the vents open for fresh air exchange. I use sponges in my bator. Usually at lockdown I fill my water wells and add 2-3 wet sponges on the screen at egg level. For me, it works great.

 

[casportpony]

More embryo pictures and a video.

Muscovy egg - Day ?

-Kathy

 

[Laurel Meadows]

Man, glad you didn't go insane!!! lol Welcome to the thread!!!

Thanks! I needed a stiff drink after all that lol.

Glad it leveled out. What day are they due? I think my call eggs are due the same time (if any make it that far).
Oh wow, that's a lot going on. I lost power last month right after a hatch finished. I had no options, no hot water, no gas stove. I brought the chicks to bed with me and kept them on my stomach! Needless to say, I didn't sleep much! Good luck to you and all your babies!
Oh man. Something always happens when it's going good! I hope everyone is ok!

Thank you! Wow did you manage to get any sleep with the chicks in there with you?

Hey guys, I am getting my FI bator ready for lockdown tomorrow.  Since the floor in the bator is so low beneath the screen the eggs will lie on, I can't find an extra container for water to get my humidity up that will fit under the screen.  So, my fix was to put an ice tray on top of the screen and start filling up squares in it until I hit my target humidity of 75 %.  When those ducks start to hatch, is it okay if they drink the distilled water or will it hurt them???  Or maybe, is it bad to have water available to the chicks so soon after they hatch???  Lemme know what you guys think.  My other option would be to go to town and get a funnel with a hose on it that will fit in my vent and then feed that down to a wet paper towel as needed.

I also use sponges for humidity. I have to use 2 sections in my hovabator to keep it in the 65-70% range. I usually will have to pour a little water on them a few times through lockdown and hatch but it's worked well!

 

[kyleigh]

What do you recommend giving weak chicks after hatching?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

What do you recommend giving weak chicks after hatching?

I always use sav a chick electrolyte in my water after hatch for the first couple days. Many use nutri drench for weak chicks or sugar water.

 

[Laurel Meadows]

They're on day 14. Just POd cause, finally, lots of eggs makin it with no problems... Plus the 2 baby pigeons are in there to keep them warm. I moved em when power started to flicker, hour later.....no frickin power.
Gosh forbid, this was like last year (1month no power) I would just put them under the 7 broodies! But c'mon, really, Mother Nature needs a pill!

I can relate I just went through it myself last night. hoping all your eggs will be ok! We had a wood stove to help keep everyone warm but even if you don't- if you have an outdoor bbq grill or patio fire pit etc and can heat up some uncooked rice in a pan, put the warm rice in baggies and into bator to keep eggs warm. It kept our bators about 84 degrees.