is it hard to incubate eggs

[ruffeled feathers]

i have 1 rooster among seven hens

 

[KellyHM]

Your fertility should be fine...just go buy a styrofoam incubator and have at it!

 

[Dirt Road]

Quitting seems to be more difficult.

Jim

 

[KellyHM]

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So true!! I've had my bators (did I mention I'm up to 3) unplugged a total of 3 days since last October!

 

[LilDucky85]

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I like that answer. Its so true! Couldnt have said it better myself!

 

[minikeeper1143]

It can be fun but you can have a night like I am having with my little hatchlings that will stress you and break your heart when they have trouble getting out of the shell.

 

[LilDucky85]

That's terrible, what's happening?

I also know what you mean by that. With my first hatch in April I didnt think I would do this for a LONG time! The hatch alone was so stressful, and I didn't sleep for 3 days until the hatch was complete! With being new to hatching, and being a first time duck owner (or any poultry) I figured Id wait a long time before taking on the stress again. My LG was packed up, and put away.

Then last Sunday at midnight I unexpectedly acquired 6 rescued wild Mallard eggs. The process starts all over again! One of the eggs are a twin egg, and I'm not counting on it to survive. I cant get my hopes up. I'm excited about this hatch, especially since their Mama was killed. I'm their second chance at life!

 

[minikeeper1143]

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All has been text book perfect from day one to the first two hatching. Then had two that were badly stuck in eggs and are finally out but have shell still stuck two their backs. Then two that were working on hatching gave up and apparently died in the shell. Now one has a big hole in the shell but not really zipped and there is a little blood at edge of membrane. The other chicks are pecking him and he is protesting loudly but not really fighting to get out of the egg. Maybe he is stuck. I am brand new at this and have been told "hands off" but this is heartbreaking. I don't want to lose another on. I do have 7 fluffly cuties (two with shell stuck to them) But you know in a mothers eyes small imperfections go unnoticed.

to stay with this subject though... I have already ordered eggs from 3 BYC members (total 30) to arrive late next week to try again!!!

 

[LilDucky85]

Id have to help. Especially if it was being pecked, how sad! I opened my bator several times during my ducks hatch. Huge no no but I had to. They all survived just fine.