May 2023 Hatch-a-long

[lilwanderer]

Update on mine, the orpingtons are on day 9 now, but i candled them on day 7. I've got one blood ring, and two are infertile. 8 have little eye balls floating around the egg. Those 8 are two lavenders, two blue, and four chocolates.
I did a brief candle on the broody hens the other day, and some were infertile cant remember how many though. I'll be taking the infertiles out tomorrow when i candle for day 10.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Welp, good thing I candled those duck eggs. Out of 12, NONE were fertile. Guess they are dogfood now.

 

[HeidiGetsChicks]

I hope it's not too silly that I'm hand turning in addition to the automatic turning of my bator. I have the rolling on its sides kind of deal and I just feel that since I've marked them I can see it doesn't necessarily turn them all the way, and they don't all turn evenly.

I also wonder if there's something to periodically lifting the lid and interacting with them mimics a broody hen better. Whether it's the fresh air or the contact or what I don't know. I'm just experimenting.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I hope it's not too silly that I'm hand turning in addition to the automatic turning of my bator. I have the rolling on its sides kind of deal and I just feel that since I've marked them I can see it doesn't necessarily turn them all the way, and they don't all turn evenly.

I also wonder if there's something to periodically lifting the lid and interacting with them mimics a broody hen better. Whether it's the fresh air or the contact or what I don't know. I'm just experimenting.

I don't have an automatic turner, so I mark my eggs with a 1 2 3 and turn them to the next position a few times a day. I honestly think the automatic turners do it too much, but meh.

Talking to them I've heard helps them recognize you when they hatch. I've not done that but then I'm a fairly quiet person (unless it's with a keyboard!).

 

[Dinoroar]

Welp, good thing I candled those duck eggs. Out of 12, NONE were fertile. Guess they are dogfood now.

Do you think your ducks need more time to warm up for the season before you see better fertility?

I just pulled 4 more of my quail eggs that weren’t fertile. It’s possible none of them are but the others are too dark to see so I’ll just keep sniffing them.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Do you think your ducks need more time to warm up for the season before you see better fertility?

I just pulled 4 more of my quail eggs that weren’t fertile. It’s possible none of them are but the others are too dark to see so I’ll just keep sniffing them.

VERY possible. I'm hoping I get some ducklings this year. The drakes are more interested in my Muscovy than their own species >.<

 

[FeatherProfessor]

Eggs are in the incubator! 6 seramas and 6 silkie/satin. Should hatch mid-May. Running forced air with auto turner and regular humidity.

Sacrificial silkie egg went in the bra yesterday.

Going to candle everything on Wednesday and see how they’re doing.

 

[Dinoroar]

VERY possible. I'm hoping I get some ducklings this year. The drakes are more interested in my Muscovy than their own species >.<

For ducks & quail in our futures.

 

[Dinoroar]

Eggs are in the incubator! 6 seramas and 6 silkie/satin. Should hatch mid-May. Running forced air with auto turner and regular humidity.

Sacrificial silkie egg went in the bra yesterday.

Going to candle everything on Wednesday and see how they’re doing.

I will be following this egg in bra experiment with great interest…. How do you keep from crushing it in your sleep

 

[FeatherProfessor]

I will be following this egg in bra experiment with great interest…. How do you keep from crushing it in your sleep

I have to sleep in a sports bra which keeps the “ladies” in place pretty decently. I sleep on my back or side and am not particularly well endowed so that might help? It’s kind of hurting in the incubation department bc more tata=more body heat.

But I wrap the egg in tissue to keep it from getting any oils or sweat on it and it goes kinda under one side. Change out the tissue as needed. I’ve been taking the temperature and it fluctuates between 98.6 and 99.5 so far.

I have a fairly sedentary job (teaching) so even though I’m on my feet or sitting at a desk during day, not a ton of jumping or shaking going on.