May 2023 Hatch-a-long

[Hedgeland Farms]

I'm so sorry!

Is that just wet yellow feathers on it or is it yellow goo? And the fleshy part sticking down from its abdomen isn't normal either. I've never seen one like that before but I wonder if it looks like the yolk sac might have ruptured.

That's just a piece of the membrane from what I could tell....
Yellow feathers....

 

[Canadian Wind]

My two ducklings, and the chick, are doing fine this morning. I'll probably toss out the other six duck eggs in a day or two, and I want to clean out the incubator since I've had so many staggered hatches in there. There are seven other duck eggs in there, and a few chicken eggs, but I'm reloading on the weekend to test out hatching on the Waxing Moon. It just happens to be that loading day will be my birthday, lol!

Perspective is a funny thing. The back chick is bigger than the front one, and also hatched from the smallest egg!

 

[gimmie birdies]

Today is my birthday!

 

[FeatherProfessor]

It's a little puppet!

I see a little motor beak just a talking about getting me out of here.

S/he was stuck still this morning so ended up getting a full assist. Seems happy and healthy and is stumbling around the incubator drying out.

 

[lilwanderer]

Guys, two more internal pips on day 18. Not sure what to think i just hope they're okay and its not going to be an issue.

the two on right are the most recent.
Also, the air pockets have changed in only hours in size- Bigger in some, and others its only changed a tiny bit.

 

[Waterfaery]

It's no secret all the unhealthy additives that are added to store bought food and fast food. Livestock feed would be a next logical step.

Yes, that is what I think. Actually, I think livestock feed is probably even more likely to be messed with than human food.

I've been suspecting issues for a while now. I've been using the same feed for years but this year I've had several odd issues that point to potential nutritional deficiencies. Nothing too serious but I do think it's strange because I haven't changed anything. This is the first year I've bred from my own birds but even my older birds are acting as if the feed is different. There's something not quite right about it. As I said, I've also come across lots of different threads in the last few months where people were confused about various health issues and wondering if the feed is to blame.

My theory is that with supply issues over the last couple of years and the rising costs of everything, they are bulking up the feed with non nutritious filler to keep their costs down. I know you're far away from me but it's probably a global thing. And we all know chickens are at the very bottom when it comes to the way livestock are treated, unfortunately. If they are going to try to cut costs in weird ways, they might chance it with poultry feed first.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Guys, two more internal pips on day 18. Not sure what to think i just hope they're okay and its not going to be an issue.
View attachment 3516793
the two on right are the most recent.
Also, the air pockets have changed in only hours in size- Bigger in some, and others its only changed a tiny bit.

Smaller eggs can hatch earlier. So long as the chick is moving and getting enough oxygen, then it should be okay. If they've internally pipped for over 24 hours (48 for ducks) without an external pip, you can take a pin and make a little hole where the air cell is to allow for fresh air. I had to do that with one of my duck eggs.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

Had to help but he's ok

 

[Waterfaery]

Guys, two more internal pips on day 18. Not sure what to think i just hope they're okay and its not going to be an issue.
View attachment 3516793
the two on right are the most recent.
Also, the air pockets have changed in only hours in size- Bigger in some, and others its only changed a tiny bit.

I don't think you need to panic about the air cells. I think there is a wide range of what can be normal. I've had hatches with huge variations in air cell sizes and in the amount of weight lost and they all hatched fine. I think a lot of the time they don't draw down until the last minute.

Internal pips on day 18 is also not that unusual. You'll get a few hatching on day 20. Exciting!

 

[Waterfaery]

Had to help but he's ok

Congratulations!