I Have A Ducklings!! Update **pics** Getting big

[Damummis]

The last few nights have been very cold. Teens. My broody who sat on a few eggs while waiting for fertile eggs just gave up. I ran to feed store, picked up a little giant incubator, got it going and after a few hours of keeping Helga hostage on her nest I let her out. Eggs are now in incubator. She has no interest at all. So here goes nothing. My first incubator hatch.

 

[gryeyes]

What a way to dive into incubating!

Good luck!

 

[shuizar209]

I fond italways happens like that with broodies. When you dont want them broody they go broody and when you want them broody they dont even entertain the thought!

 

[donrae]

I'm so afraid of this! I bought two bantam cochins planning to use them to brood my (hatchery, nonbroody) hen's eggs. But, then I go and look at the hatching eggs for sale and............I get the itch. The itch to buy some. Well, a lot, really. I know in theory I could buy some and put them under one of the girls when they go broody, but I'm afraid I'd "lose" the broodiness along the way, by bad timing or whatnot. I guess I'll let them hatch out a batch or two of my *free* eggs before I go investing in some nicer eggs. But, I'm looking esp at Bargains eggs, and I want!

'K, enough about me.......good luck on your first incubating! I'm afeared I may be not far behind you........

 

[minihorse927]

Good luck with it, I think you might find out quickly that it is addicting! If you have questions about incubating just ask away we are more than happy to help!

 

[shellyga]

You will find it is addicting for sure..

I ordered day-old chicks for spring delivery.. THEN I thought.. hummm I have an incubator that I have used in my classroom each year to hatch some quail for the students to see.. hummm I do believe that it will hold chicken eggs.. let me check.. YES.. it does hold chicken eggs.. So DH and I lovingly saved eggs from our three laying hens for a few days.. count was nine. "Let's get started" I say. So away we go with our 9 Buff Orpington eggs. The next morning, DH comes in with 2 more eggs and a look - "Can we add these too" he says..

SURE. Now we are up to 11.

THEN I find the auctions!

I could not resist Blue Orpingtons from Rockinpaints, and Blue Laced Wyndottes from Chickenlady81.. then I started counting.. would they all fit??? Both batches arrived the same day, so I lovingly unwrapped each one (not a broken egg in either box) and although THRILLED with the bonus eggs.. was worried that I would have to throw out an egg. We put them in the incubator and had EXACTLY enough space for every single egg. Now we are just waiting.

I tell our story to warn you.. that hatching eggs in super addictive. I am already thinking about what other kinds of chicks to get and my first haven't even hatched yet!

Shelly

 

[Damummis]

Today we are suppose to have a huge storm with very high winds. I am trying to put up the protective bubble. Can't risk a power outage right now. These 21 duck eggs and 2 goose eggs need a stinking chance.

 

[Damummis]

We are going into lock down tomorrow.
12 duck eggs and 1 goose developed.

I have one smaller light green egg that has a dark duck in it. I can see it pushed up against the shell. Way cool.

 

[Damummis]

Walking by to check temp and I see movement. One egg is rocking.

 

[BHep]

Awwww.... I just hatched out 5 runner ducks in a homemade fishtank incubator, they are absolutely adorable! Never hatched ducks before...they do take foreverrrrrr to hatch out.
Best of luck, I will be looking for pics.