- Jul 1, 2014
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New to the forum, and after following the "shrink wrapped" hatching adventure this morning, while having my own similar adventure, I'd like to share my observations.
June 26 was day 28 for a clutch of 10 duck eggs, Indian Runner with a touch of Mallard. Our first hatching last month wasn't bad, we got 4 out of 12, all healthy. The two girls were sold, the two drakes are going to be freezer stock unless we keep one for some line-breeding.
This clutch, 10 eggs, has been less successful. The first egg pipped at day 29, the problem looked similar to the one on the recent thread, but I wasn't successful in the help. I think I just maybe waited too long. The one I successfully helped survived the assistance, looked a LOT like the wry-necked chick I nursed to survival (who is tractored with the ducks in the orchard) but wasn't showing any muscle tone development in her neck, and her feet weren't moving enough to do more than jerk her around, plus her eyes looked infected. I could have managed any one of those issues, but all three wasn't looking promising. I was able to keep her alive long enough with electrolyte/vitamin solution (similar to how i saved the wrynecked Peeps) to put her in the brooder box, and the other healthy duckling's noises got her moving around more, but she just in the last hour managed to flip off her towel, got her head in the duckling waterer and drowned. I do think that was in the long run for the best - can you imagine the effect of mating with weak neck muscles? - but I am still disappointed and a little sad.
So. Two avian hatchlings with wry neck. Something in the water? Something not in the water? The chickens and ducks are both getting layers crumble (we are raising both for eggs). We are in Northern Nevada, and I haven't had anything passed along concerning selenium, and none of our goats have had major kidding problems. (And one housemate has had two of her babies right here at home, no problems there!)
Our well water is very alkaline. 8.2pH. Is that ever a problem? (Great for us human teeth, for sure!)
We are as I noted at 4000 feet. I have read that the meat chickens for example don't do well above 5000 feet. That plus the very low humidity especially this time of year, could that be the problem? Or part of the problem?
We are using a Miller "Little Giant" incubator, the model with the fan but doing the turning by hand. We are following instructions as to the water channels, but this last hatch I am supplementing with extra humidity (a 4 oz mason jar with a paper towel wick directly under the fan unit since the outside air RH is in the single digits. Any comments on that?
All your thoughts and comments would be appreciated. Thank you!
June 26 was day 28 for a clutch of 10 duck eggs, Indian Runner with a touch of Mallard. Our first hatching last month wasn't bad, we got 4 out of 12, all healthy. The two girls were sold, the two drakes are going to be freezer stock unless we keep one for some line-breeding.
This clutch, 10 eggs, has been less successful. The first egg pipped at day 29, the problem looked similar to the one on the recent thread, but I wasn't successful in the help. I think I just maybe waited too long. The one I successfully helped survived the assistance, looked a LOT like the wry-necked chick I nursed to survival (who is tractored with the ducks in the orchard) but wasn't showing any muscle tone development in her neck, and her feet weren't moving enough to do more than jerk her around, plus her eyes looked infected. I could have managed any one of those issues, but all three wasn't looking promising. I was able to keep her alive long enough with electrolyte/vitamin solution (similar to how i saved the wrynecked Peeps) to put her in the brooder box, and the other healthy duckling's noises got her moving around more, but she just in the last hour managed to flip off her towel, got her head in the duckling waterer and drowned. I do think that was in the long run for the best - can you imagine the effect of mating with weak neck muscles? - but I am still disappointed and a little sad.
So. Two avian hatchlings with wry neck. Something in the water? Something not in the water? The chickens and ducks are both getting layers crumble (we are raising both for eggs). We are in Northern Nevada, and I haven't had anything passed along concerning selenium, and none of our goats have had major kidding problems. (And one housemate has had two of her babies right here at home, no problems there!)
Our well water is very alkaline. 8.2pH. Is that ever a problem? (Great for us human teeth, for sure!)
We are as I noted at 4000 feet. I have read that the meat chickens for example don't do well above 5000 feet. That plus the very low humidity especially this time of year, could that be the problem? Or part of the problem?
We are using a Miller "Little Giant" incubator, the model with the fan but doing the turning by hand. We are following instructions as to the water channels, but this last hatch I am supplementing with extra humidity (a 4 oz mason jar with a paper towel wick directly under the fan unit since the outside air RH is in the single digits. Any comments on that?
All your thoughts and comments would be appreciated. Thank you!
