Incubating a small egg - not sure if silkie or early duck! When to lock down?

[kerryb90]

I have a blue silkie hen and a number of runner, campbell, and pekin hens that are all about 5 and a half months old. I know 5 months old is early for a silkie to lay and about right for a runner and a campbell. I also know that when they're new to laying, ducks can lay VERY small eggs. (I'm not sure if those eggs will be fertile, but judging by the activity I've seen in my yard, there's no reason for them NOT to be...)

I found an orb about the size of a bantam chicken egg in my yard two weeks ago and initially thought silkie. I put it in my incubator with a planned lockdown date of 4/25 (19 days). Then I did some research and decided it was probably an early lay by one of the ducks, so adjusted the lockdown date to 5/1 (25 days).

Today it occurred to me that an egg laid by a duck so early in her laying life may not develop properly, and this one is definitely developing - though I can't speak to how quickly relative to the norm, as I've only hatched duck eggs once. So perhaps it was laid by my silkie?

The egg in question is in the center on the left next to a barnyard mix (khaki or runner most likely) due to hatch this weekend. How should I judge the lockdown date? Should I candle at 19 days and if it looks developed put it on lockdown, or should I wait until 25 days?

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Pyxis]

You can tell what kind of egg it is in a couple ways.

First, a duck egg has a smooth, waxy shell, and isn't as porous as a chicken egg.

Secondly, if you shine a candler through a duck it, it'll light up all the way through, really bright. You'll definitely notice a difference if you compare it to candling a chicken egg.

 

[kerryb90]

You can tell what kind of egg it is in a couple ways.

First, a duck egg has a smooth, waxy shell, and isn't as porous as a chicken egg.

Secondly, if you shine a candler through a duck it, it'll light up all the way through, really bright. You'll definitely notice a difference if you compare it to candling a chicken egg.

Thank you!!! Does that second point still apply once the egg has been incubating for a bit?

 

[Pyxis]

Thank you!!! Does that second point still apply once the egg has been incubating for a bit?

It does You'll definitely notice a difference.

I've been having to use this trick because my Aztec ducks and EE pullets are laying eggs that are the exact same size and shade of green, haha.

 

[kerryb90]

It does You'll definitely notice a difference.

I've been having to use this trick because my Aztec ducks and EE pullets are laying eggs that are the exact same size and shade of green, haha.

Thank you so much. I'll candle soon.

 

[kerryb90]

You can tell what kind of egg it is in a couple ways.

First, a duck egg has a smooth, waxy shell, and isn't as porous as a chicken egg.

Secondly, if you shine a candler through a duck it, it'll light up all the way through, really bright. You'll definitely notice a difference if you compare it to candling a chicken egg.

I think it's a duck egg because underneath the dirt it seems waxy and when candled it's very bright at the bottom where the embryo isn't developing. I realized I have another one in there too from around the same time - most likely both fart eggs. They're developing well. Let's see if they hatch!

 

[Yucky_ducky_kentucky]

I have a blue silkie hen and a number of runner, campbell, and pekin hens that are all about 5 and a half months old. I know 5 months old is early for a silkie to lay and about right for a runner and a campbell. I also know that when they're new to laying, ducks can lay VERY small eggs. (I'm not sure if those eggs will be fertile, but judging by the activity I've seen in my yard, there's no reason for them NOT to be...)

I found an orb about the size of a bantam chicken egg in my yard two weeks ago and initially thought silkie. I put it in my incubator with a planned lockdown date of 4/25 (19 days). Then I did some research and decided it was probably an early lay by one of the ducks, so adjusted the lockdown date to 5/1 (25 days).

Today it occurred to me that an egg laid by a duck so early in her laying life may not develop properly, and this one is definitely developing - though I can't speak to how quickly relative to the norm, as I've only hatched duck eggs once. So perhaps it was laid by my silkie?

The egg in question is in the center on the left next to a barnyard mix (khaki or runner most likely) due to hatch this weekend. How should I judge the lockdown date? Should I candle at 19 days and if it looks developed put it on lockdown, or should I wait until 25 days?

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

View attachment 2631589

looks like duck eggs to me, but you'll know weeks later because ducks develop much slower.

 

[Chicalina]

How come you've decided to incubate really muddy eggs? I think you'll risk having a poor hatch rate because of the amount of bacteria in the incubator? I mean, it's a LOT of dirt!

 

[kerryb90]

How come you've decided to incubate really muddy eggs? I think you'll risk having a poor hatch rate because of the amount of bacteria in the incubator? I mean, it's a LOT of dirt!

that was something I did early on not knowing the risks. I now incubate much cleaner eggs but didn't want to toss otherwise well developed embryos without giving them a chance.

 

[kerryb90]

looks like duck eggs to me, but you'll know weeks later because ducks develop much slower.

They are and two are in lockdown now!