- Sep 24, 2011
- 26
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- 22
I started this incubation with the plan of only trying to save one little stray egg I found in the yard and my mallard hens wouldn't have anything to do with. So I built a home made incubator thinking if it doesn't work at least I gave it a shot. I am sad to report that egg#1 did not make it, but my hens did make a nest and all of them (I think) are sharing it and no one feels like sitting on it yet. So I started dating the eggs. When the count got up to 15 in under a week I removed 5 of the older ones, put them in my home made bator and crossed my fingers. Today I found out the thermometer I have been using has not at all been accurate on the humidity and slightly accurate on the temp after I broke down and bought a real incubator since they are still laying and still no one ready to sit on them, I needed more space to prepare for more eggs.
So when I sat down to candle those 5 (day 4), I was delightfully surprised to see blood vessels and tiny little hearts (I think) fluttering in the middle of 4 of them. I am so excited I am beside myself!!! My contraption worked! I still moved them over to the little giant bator so there would be more stability for them.
This is my very first attempt so I haven't been sure what to do except for what I have read on the Internet. Mom was right, a little studying does pay off! keeping my fingers crossed.
Planning on adding more tomorrow and I'm going to get another incubator set up for "lock down" because they will have different hatch dates, but I still have time for that. Any suggestions for a first time mother duck stand in? Any advice would be appreciated!
I am now a quack addict & a hatch-o-holic!!
So when I sat down to candle those 5 (day 4), I was delightfully surprised to see blood vessels and tiny little hearts (I think) fluttering in the middle of 4 of them. I am so excited I am beside myself!!! My contraption worked! I still moved them over to the little giant bator so there would be more stability for them.
This is my very first attempt so I haven't been sure what to do except for what I have read on the Internet. Mom was right, a little studying does pay off! keeping my fingers crossed.
Planning on adding more tomorrow and I'm going to get another incubator set up for "lock down" because they will have different hatch dates, but I still have time for that. Any suggestions for a first time mother duck stand in? Any advice would be appreciated!
I am now a quack addict & a hatch-o-holic!!