Incubating and hatching eggs chat thread!!

[ChcknNurse]

From the conversations I've been having with friends, egg production is down across the board and so is fertility. Think its heat related.

Could be... everyone was suddenly producing, and then broody.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

So I looked it up.Call ducks(what I want to hatch)Take 26 days, or that's what a member said(a duck "expert")So, do you think, if I hatch them, I would be able to lock them, and the chicken eggs, down on day 18 or would that be bad for the ducks?

 

[JRNash]

I personally don't see a problem with it

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Great!I am going to Contact Sally a sunshine and others for advice Aswell.

 

[ChcknNurse]

Great!I am going to Contact Sally a sunshine and others for advice Aswell.

I'd like to know-- been thinking about hatching ducks. I believe most say to incubate at a different humidity. Lockdown is higher humidity, but that's fine for chicks. I'm not sure the bator you have, but I've heard some say that they use baskets to keep the different eggs separate. I don't do this, but for eggs that won't hatch at the same time, it may help to keep the chicks from crawling on them.

 

[JRNash]

I'd like to know-- been thinking about hatching ducks. I believe most say to incubate at a different humidity. Lockdown is higher humidity, but that's fine for chicks. I'm not sure the bator you have, but I've heard some say that they use baskets to keep the different eggs separate. I don't do this, but for eggs that won't hatch at the same time, it may help to keep the chicks from crawling on them.

If you go to Metzer Farms website,go into the blogs they have about hatching. Its an excellent company and they have a ton of information

 

[JRNash]

Snapped a quick picture while I was cleaning out the brooder

 

[ChcknNurse]

View attachment 1027759Snapped a quick picture while I was cleaning out the brooder

The D'uccles that hatched I added to the brooder in the evening, under the heat plate. The older chicks don't use the heat plate as often anymore (but can't completely remove).

I Have been monitoring and been splinting 2 chicks with splayed legs. One has been walking after 24 hours. The other is flopping on her belly, Not stargazing, but no improvement. I am guessing I should cull her. But, her eyes are bright and other than being tired, she's not showing any other health concerns. It makes me think injury, not wry neck. There is no head tilt and she eats. Legs are splayed but not strengthening (butts dench & poly visol given). I didn't see the hatch, wish I had. I do wonder if there was a bulge or anything that would clue me in.

That was NUTRIDRENCH!

 

[JRNash]

Could be a slipped tendon.

 

[Ledgewood7]

I've had good luck buying and hatching eggs off eBay. Call ducks and guineas. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. It's a risk, it all has to do with how rough they are handled during shipping.