Incubators Anonymous

[gimmie birdies]

I have 2 blue splash frizzle-frazzle/ smooth blue splash mix eggs due sat. one pip, and one in aircell.

 

[Arielle]

Thank you for the advice. But I won't be incubating again. I am concerned about animal welfare, and just not able to deal with being responsible for so many little lives lost. As I have said - those who are able to incubate successfully should by all means continue to do so, hopefully making an effort to preserve rare, endangered, and heritage breeds.

I feel the same way-- being responsible for what I hatch. So I spent months trying to figure out why so many people on BYC had poor hatches. I discoverd the key-- dry hatching. I read more and wrote down the %RH and the hatch rate when ever I could find the 2 pcs of information. THAT was the key. Get those eggs dried down correctly, and keep the temp spot on and turn those eggs.

I learned to candle eggs and evaluate the air cells for development. My first try was 50%- I hear your concern, but perhap make their lose worthwhile and find what works.

THen you too can help preserve rare,endangered heritage breeds. WHat breeds do you like??

 

[HereDucky]

Aylesbury ducks are my favorite. I love their personality and temperament. I have a small flock of ten. The few ducklings I have hatched have gone to good homes. I have sold several dozen hatching eggs this spring to people with expensive incubators, so hopefully there will be many more of these wonderful ducks in the near future.

 

[Arielle]

Aylesbury ducks are my favorite. I love their personality and temperament. I have a small flock of ten. The few ducklings I have hatched have gone to good homes. I have sold several dozen hatching eggs this spring to people with expensive incubators, so hopefully there will be many more of these wonderful ducks in the near future.

http://poultrykeeper.com/duck-breeds/aylesbury-ducks

THis was a quick reference to read as I had not heard of the Aylesbury duck. A very interesting duck!!!! A long history as a meat bird and the 40 mile walk to the London markets on feet coated with tar and sawdust like shoes. I did wonder if it had been used to make any of the hybrid meat ducks.

Like most cottage industry animals in the US and Europe, they almost disappeared because of WWII-- this would be a wonder breed to help preserve. Using them as a table fowl would certainly be a good reason to breed them-- duck is my favorite meal. I have had to make the transition of understanding that to eat my birds creates a viable demand for them and a reason to keep breeding and hatching. It is what will keep up the demand for these heavy ducks.

Do they go broody? Perhaps that is a way to propagate more ducks. Or use a broody chicken like a silky cross . . .

Who else has them here in the US??? Do you sell hatching eggs??

 

[HereDucky]

I know the Aylesbury is still a popular dual-purpose breed in the UK. American tastes are somewhat different. Fortunately, they make excellent pets and ornamental pond ducks. They are poor to fair mothers - I will let any of my hens nest and sit if they are so inclined, but they never sit for the 28 days or so required. My only broody hens are bantams; I could maybe fit a couple of eggs under one - but they tend to not accept eggs that aren't their own and push them out. I have found one hatchery that sells show-quality Aylesbury ducklings - Stromberg's in Minnesota. $13.50 each/maximum order of 15, straight run only. I do sell hatching eggs, $5.00 per dozen, but only locally. $5.00 is very cheap, I know, but I'm not doing it to make money. I just want to do my part to sustain the breed. And I've learned the hard way - until they hatch, they are just eggs.

 

[Tuhmu]

I would like to eventually get into the large breed ducks, and that is a very interesting breed. The other breed I find interesting is the Saxony. Right now I just have my little call ducks, white, grey, and going to add pastel in two weeks (getting an order from efowl).

I don't think I have ever tasted duck, actually I know I haven't.... It just doesn't seem to be a very popular meat in N. Dakota, not even sure you could buy it at a market. Would love to give it a try though! (not with my call ducks though, they are too adorable to eat

)

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

this year i did weekly hatches and used the bottom tray for the hatcher, i had great hatches but if i filled the shelf for that week with two full trays i found that i couldn't fit all the
eggs in the hatching tray beneath, am i just being picky or did you find that out too?

I am not sure what you are asking. Paint me a picture so to speak.

 

[Runawaylobster]

I am not sure what you are asking. Paint me a picture so to speak.

well, you fill one shelf per week so each week you hatch one shelf and refill the shelf you just hatched. Actually I move all mine down so they rotate from the top..

but it seems to me that the hatching tray isnt big enough to accommodate one full shelf.

 

[Tuhmu]

well, you fill one shelf per week so each week you hatch one shelf and refill the shelf you just hatched. Actually I move all mine down so they rotate from the top..

but it seems to me that the hatching tray isnt big enough to accommodate one full shelf.

Oh my gosh that would be great, hatching babies every week. I don't know what I would do with all the little flufferbutts though!

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
you have full brooders, then you post ads on craigslist begging people to buy chicks because you have too many. LOL

don't ask how I know this...