July Hatch-A-Long

[darkbluespace]

awe! im so sorry! I can relate! my hen was sitting on 3 polish eggs and I broke one open to a perfectly formed chick. formed all they way to its date of incubation, day 15, with toenails feathers scales, egg tooth and such. I was so depressed. thing is, the egg smelled. I didn't get it, maybe it was dead, but anyways I felt bad looking at a chick I had no way of saving.

Thank you for the comforting words. Finding this whole grown chick... you just want to go back in time 30 seconds to undo it! I guess sometimes you just can't see see veins or movement and that we are human and we make mistakes. It stings for a while, but I will definitely be more cautious in the future. Although I thought I was already being very cautious!

 

[darkbluespace]

Ill tell you what I did. On day 14 i got rid of all water, opened all vents and laid eggs on dry rice which i changed daily (heated it up in the oven to dry it). I marked the cells so i could see their development. They got bigger eventually and the day 18/19 they really changed! I was shocked. I only added water today not long ago.

Edit: candled again

5 have pipped internally, 3 haven't yet but they are moving. I marked where the beaks are so i know where to look for cracks in the shells.

What day are you on now and what are you hatching? Can't wait to see cute babies!!

 

[KendyF]

So you are looking to have chicks tomorrow! I have some due the day after!

 

[darkbluespace]

@bantambury I just saw your motto (or whatever it's called)... "life does go on." Love it : ) ...it's perfect for me today.

 

[darkbluespace]

I'm worried about my air cells, too - going into day 14 and when I candled last night the air cells haven't changed at all since day 7. Blergh.

I really really REALLY hope your eggies hatch without any problems! I adore silkies!

This website just made me feel way better about my duck egg air cells... cool candling photos too.

http://www.metzerfarms.com/Candling.cfm

 

[Amykins]

This website just made me feel way better about my duck egg air cells... cool candling photos too.

http://www.metzerfarms.com/Candling.cfm

Ah, yeah I got that one bookmarked, it's a great informational page! I feel rather silly, I've worked with cats, dogs, reptiles, even seals, but when it comes to ducks I'm utterly hopeless!

 

[dominiquePL]

What day are you on now and what are you hatching?  Can't wait to see cute babies!!

Its now about 10 hours of day 21. Im hatching 8 silkies. We now have 7 external pips!!! And 1 internal! It looks like my home made incubator is the best Oh 2 pipped wrong end. I expected that. I could see the eggyolks and embryos were not in the middle from the first time i candled them.

Well, its getting loud in the bator and i cant sleep - slept for 4 hours and woke up to check the babies :-D

 

[darkbluespace]

Ah, yeah I got that one bookmarked, it's a great informational page! I feel rather silly, I've worked with cats, dogs, reptiles, even seals, but when it comes to ducks I'm utterly hopeless!

I hear ya... this incubating seems to be an emotional business... I hope it gets easier : )

 

[chickieluver26]

Guys please help all but 1 of my 11 eggs have rolling air cells what do I do!!!

Ok 2 have already reattached, 4 are almost reattached, and the others are much better, I'm going to wait until 12:00 and then put them in.

 

[dominiquePL]

Wow that is impressive! Good luck !