July Hatch-A-Long

[darkbluespace]

Mine go into lockdown on Monday. I'm losing sleep...this was the point last year that mine died. I'm really, really nervous. :/

I totally feel you... having had the same experience. Just know that everything will be okay. Your ducks are doing well and you have done your best. There are so many emotional ups and down in this experience, I am so grateful I found this place where we can all share it together : )

 

[KendyF]

Update on my hatch only one live chick. One viable egg that was broken by hen, and several duds and late starters. I know it is silly, but I am happy for the hen getting at least one little chick out of all that work.

 

[eliseswart]

Good luck to you too... I love that we are half a world away and hatching at the same time : )

My ducks are Anconas and I am just dying to have them. I have a broody duck and I am wondering if she will adopt them. My first attempt at incubating turned out differently than I hoped... a lot of experience, but no ducks. I made a lot of changes... mostly with humidity and local eggs instead of shipped and so I am very hopeful. I was wondering how I would sleep tonight but I am so tired from being so excited. I may sleep now and wake in a few hours to check.

You are hatching chickens? What kind?

Yes, chickens. 11 eggs from my own flock, being the French ordinairy farm chickens and 10 Brahma's. I wanted chickens that would go broody, because those modern chickens won't. One of them did once last year, this year nothing. A neighbour of the next village gave me the Brahma eggs, so nice.

I have the same, too excited to sleep, but I needed to check on the humidity as well, so no problem. Sleep well and a very good hatch! Here it is 09:15, the day just started.

 

[eliseswart]

YES! The first one hatched in 5 minutes! I'm so happy!

 

[Amykins]

I totally feel you... having had the same experience. Just know that everything will be okay. Your ducks are doing well and you have done your best. There are so many emotional ups and down in this experience, I am so grateful I found this place where we can all share it together : )

*HUG*

 

[chantelhatt]

If I listen very closely to my incubator I can hear chirping I sure hope it hatches successfully *Fingers Crossed*

 

[chantelhatt]

also if only one chick actually hatches out of six will my chick get lonely? should I borrow one of my friends week old chicks?

 

[Amykins]

also if only one chick actually hatches out of six will my chick get lonely? should I borrow one of my friends week old chicks?

Define "borrow". To be honest it's better for a chick to hatch all alone than to have a friend and then have it taken away. If there IS only one, it will imprint very strongly on you.

 

[Kelsykin]

Quote: Yeah was a bit of a shock. Now my hatching is done for the month. I have a brooder full of chicks on the back porch. Silkies, Buff Orp, EEs, Marans, Welsummers, Sebrights, and Ginger Reds.

I have 24 Jersey Giant chicks coming this week. They were ordered and not hatched buy me. Just can't wait for my flock to start laying.

 

[Cynthia12]

Hurray! Today is day 20 and 11 out of 21 are pipped. I can hear them chirping.

I'm paralyzed with joy!

lol...paralyzed over the bator right? I am done hatching for this year. It's so strange. I don't have any eggs to turn. It feels weird. I hope this feeling passes soon.

Still have those little ones in the house that I just hatched. That helps. They will go out soon. It's soo warm outside, they will do fine in the nursery. I won't even have to put a light on them. We were 102 the other day! Whew..I hope when we get back down into the low 90's again this weekend, we stay there for a while. Still have our hot August to get through.