March Hatch-A-Long

[cppeace]

Yep Ducklings are still voted cutest by me lol I'm biased though. the first thing I ever hatched was a mutt duck

 

[two j farm]

7/8 hatched!
That’s what I get for doing it the way I usually do
3 white, 3 black and white and another mystery duckling. I’m so tempted to keep the two odd ducks to see what they turn out like! Seriously one of my favourite things about mixed birds - so fun and surprising!
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Mystery baby
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The previous mystery baby
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So cute

 

[Ranchwithaview]

I'm having a serious "OH CRAP!!!!!" Moment!! I candled the eggs one last time to be sure. I saw one that had a blood ring and was breaking down. I googled it a dozen times, and I was positive it was dead. I was curious as to what happened - and what the inside of an egg looks like. So... I gently cracked the air bubble with a screw, and peeled away bits of the egg to see.

I wish I hadn't. So much. It MOVED. I thought it was fluids twisting. No. The baby moved. It pulsed up and down. I feel so, so bad now.

I opened the egg under a very humid blanket - I was under the blanket to see where the air sac was, and my breath fogged it up a LOT. As soon as I realized I covered the hole with my thumb and put it back in the incubator.

I feel like a total turd now. If I killed that poor baby I'll never forgive myself. I was sure it was dead...

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Aw, sorry. I am so afraid of doing this. I candle a suspect egg way more than most probably do because of it. I almost got rid of an egg today. Twice...no movement...today, movement.

must be a glutton for punishment I couldn't help but just order another dozen Bresse eggs to try again. Ugh Why Am I so determined to hatch more? lol Mixing ages is going to be such a pain if I get some to hatch out of this dozen.... Ah well, at least this group will have a circulated incubator since I'm adding a fan.

Do you have a diy incubator?

 

[cppeace]

Yeah, I built my incubator. I hatched 100% the first time with it lol

 

[Ranchwithaview]

@cppeace that's great. Will you post a pic? Mine is a diy, but very simple.

 

[cppeace]

It's pretty dirty on the outside so don't really want to take a picture. It's 3 years old and the other pets have made it pretty filthy lol It's just a big styrofoam chest, with a big glass front and a few vent holes and a removable part on top to be able to reach in and adjust stuff without messing with temp or humidity too much. If you search $20 incubator in youtube you'll see the basic one I have. Mine is just bigger and cost about $5 more than his lol

 

[Ranchwithaview]

It's pretty dirty on the outside so don't really want to take a picture. It's 3 years old and the other pets have made it pretty filthy lol It's just a big styrofoam chest, with a big glass front and a few vent holes and a removable part on top to be able to reach in and adjust stuff without messing with temp or humidity too much. If you search $20 incubator in youtube you'll see the basic one I have. Mine is just bigger and cost about $5 more than his lol

Do you have a thermostat wired in? I don't.

 

[cppeace]

Here's the link, my chest is bigger and my front window is bigger and I removed a chunk on top to make my access panel.

 

[cppeace]

I do not, I have a few thermometers and I now use my reptile thermostat as well so I have to check it less often when the temp is changing in the room.

 

[two j farm]

Here's the link, my chest is bigger and my front window is bigger and I removed a chunk on top to make my access panel.

I hatched my very first chicks in a DIY just like this, I have the little giant now.