Incubating buddy wanted!

[tink0602]

Quote:
I appreciate just having a voice to talk, too....well you know - write too...

and you still have more experience than I do!!

I read someone's very long and informative thread under "geese" on candling, incubating, and hatching...it seems as if the movement that I am seeing at the base of the air cell is shadows that show up before internal pipping as the duckling is moving itself into position. OH MY GOSH! It looks like I AM going to have lockdown sooner than expected. I quickly turned them all so the wide part was facing up...it is so weird...some of the air cells seem SO BIG compared to the others...and those are the ones where the shadowing is going on. In one of them it looked like maybe the shadow of a little beak. I left the warm wet washcloths in there, took the other red plug out, and dropped the temp like a degree. Now, I am wishing the incubator was by my bed so I could watch them every second!!!
I didn't hold one up to my ear, because I didn't see any beaks, yet...and I didn't want to mess around with them too much.

I'm still freaking out a little....how can I not stare at the incubator now every second for the next several days...I am totally feeling your "hovabator" joke!!

 

[tgperg]

I don't KNOW! I think I spent a whole week staring at mine. The kids homeschool lessons all got turned into chicken related stuff somehow. . . don't know how that happened. . .

It does sound like you might be closer than you think. Are these purebred muscovies?

tg

 

[tink0602]

They are wild...we rescued them...so I guess so??? I'm pretty sure they are only mating with each other out here....

I am a homeschool mommy, too...crazy for us...but great learning experience for the kids. We were going to get the "grow your own butterflies" kit to do this summer, but somehow we got just slightly more complicated.

 

[tgperg]

Quote:
What?? There's a grow your own butterfly kit??? OMG. I must have this grow your own butterfly kit. I'm a beekeeper too, so I can't tell you how many of our lessons are featuring bees.

Traci

 

[tink0602]

There are several places that sell them, but my friend who just did it with her kids got her kit from insectlore.com.
I even saw them at Target stores.

 

[tgperg]

I give you your daily dose of squee:

You're welcome.

Traci

 

[tink0602]

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cute!!!! I hope to share pics soon!!!!!

I am so nervous.

 

[tink0602]

okay...so today the incubator was so humid that when I opened the top condensation was dripping off of it!!! YIkes!!! That has got to be too much, right? I took out another one of the washcloths and let it breathe for a few minutes before I closed it. No internal pipping yet...I am glad, because it is too early. I will take a peak again, tonight...can the humidity be too high for the last week?? or is too high better than too low???

I guess I am on my own with this. We are praying for the best.

 

[tgperg]

I think it can be too high. Too high and they drown, apparently, too low and they shrink wrap. You've seen the incubating waterfowl sticky on the goose board, right? That's the biggest thing I followed. And then I was guessing and second guessing.

Traci

 

[tink0602]

Hi Traci,
Yes...I did read and reread the sticky on the goose board. I know humidity can be too high all along and they will drown, just wondering if it can be too high during hatch...My air cells are on the bigger side, do I am more worried about making up for that. I don't want to overcompensate, though.

Guessing, Second Guessing, Talking to them, and Praying....