June hatch-a-long!

[ldawntaylor]

@Lifeiseasy I hope your chicks are okay after yesterday.

My power is out, but it is 80F outside which means things won't cool down very fast. I am glad for that with an incubator that still has eggs in it. And 3 recently hatched chicks.

 

[Lifeiseasy]

@Lifeiseasy I hope your chicks are okay after yesterday.

My power is out, but it is 80F outside which means things won't cool down very fast. I am glad for that with an incubator that still has eggs in it. And 3 recently hatched chicks.

They’re all doing great. Our power came back on around 6 this morning, it is now 10:30. I hope everything goes well for you and that you get your power back soon.

 

[Ms Biddy]

Okay peeps, here is my hatch along report. Nineteen of my eggs made it to lockdown. They unexpectedly started pipping and hatching on day 19. Today is day 21 and there is one left that's internally pipped. It was a very old egg and I'm skeptical that it's going to be strong and healthy enough to finish the job ahead. We will see! Three of the eggs look like they died inside before pipping. I'm almost sure of it, but they're still in the incubator. One of those was cracked and sealed with wax, not surprising. Two of the eggs didn't make it and died during hatching . I think this is my fault. They were pipped and positioned correctly but completely filled the inside space and I believe they suffocated or drowned probably due to me and humidity that was too high or too low. That leaves 13 chicks that hatched successfully. I'll come back if I get a good photo.

 

[theuglyduckling]

My broodys chicks are hatching its only day 19 so theyre a little early but im so excited! Should i leave the nest alone and not bother the broody and nest or should i check them to see how they are. Im not sure how many are hatching but i saw one hatching only because she sort of moved a little and i saw the chick still in the shell. It was like if she were trying to show me.

 

[ldawntaylor]

Congratulations.

As for what you do...some broodies are fine with your involvement and some aren't.

 

[theuglyduckling]

Will it harm the chicks who are still hatching if i check under her to see if any others are hatching or to remove any shells?

 

[theuglyduckling]

She killed the chick. I checked and its dead and she had blood on her beak. I dont know what to do about the other eggs because they havent pipped yet and how do i know she wont do anything to those either? I dont have an incubator and i wont be able to buy one. If she did it to this one is it likely shell do it to the others once they start to hatch too?

 

[ldawntaylor]

She killed the chick. I checked and its dead and she had blood on her beak. I dont know what to do about the other eggs because they havent pipped yet and how do i know she wont do anything to those either? I dont have an incubator and i wont be able to buy one. If she did it to this one is it likely shell do it to the others once they start to hatch too?

I really don't have any answers for you about what she will do to the others.

As for the no incubator thing. Do you have something like a small box? If you have that and some way to keep the heat around 101 degrees Fahrenheit in that space then you have a good start on making one.

All you would need to add then is a way to increase humidity, like a damp rag or sponge, and the eggs.

Maybe someone else has some ideas. I am just sharing what I would do if I didn't have an incubator.

 

[theuglyduckling]

I really don't have any answers for you about what she will do to the others.

As for the no incubator thing. Do you have something like a small box? If you have that and some way to keep the heat around 101 degrees Fahrenheit in that space then you have a good start on making one.

All you would need to add then is a way to increase humidity, like a damp rag or sponge, and the eggs.

Maybe someone else has some ideas. I am just sharing what I would do if I didn't have an incubator.

thanks i think i might give her ankther chance and hope she doesnt try again.

 

[Georgina Fritznoodle]

I candled my duck's eggs tonight. One egg on day 19, four on day 18, and five on day 6. All of the day 6 eggs and 3 of the day 18 eggs looked great! One of the day 18 eggs has a huge air cell though, it takes up about half the egg. It seems like it's detaching and it looks like there is fluid in the air cell. The duckling is still alive but I don't think it will make it to hatch. The day 19 egg has a huge crack in it. I don't know how long its been there as the last time I candled was on day 11. Should I try to seal it up with something?

Healthy day 18 egg:

Day 18 egg with large air cell:

Cracked day 19 egg: