My Basic DIY Incubator

[torilovessmiles]

(Day 15, round 2) Candled to check air cells and suspicious eggs. Dark areas on two good eggs are growing. It's difficult to see veins but the couple I can see are very large! One appears smaller than the other, though it may be it's position.
I did an eggtopsy on the one with the blood ring, and the embryo was under 1cm long with a few veins and had the start of eyeballs (barely). I assume it died on day 2 or 3. I was worried I'd have a blow-up if I left it in any longer, and the blood ring was VERY clear under light, even in a lit room. I have a few clears but they don't smell bad, so I'll take them out before lockdown. I feel like they hold heat a bit.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I bought 3 babies from feed store while I wait fore more.

 

[torilovessmiles]

I bought 3 babies from feed store while I wait fore more.

Awww!! Such cute babies! Is that little crested one in the back a polish?
I went to the feed store today and all they had were black australorps those are fine but I want a few EEs and a few BAs. If they didn't have a 6 chick minimum, I would have taken just a few BAs while they had them and come back next week!
Oh well, one more week lol

 

[kuhnse51]

One more week @torilovessmiles!! My feed store doesn't have any super exciting breeds but the little ducks are sooo cute! I'm always tempted to get one but I don't know what I would do with a duck lol

 

[torilovessmiles]

One more week @torilovessmiles!! My feed store doesn't have any super exciting breeds but the little ducks are sooo cute! I'm always tempted to get one but I don't know what I would do with a duck lol

I was going to order three ducklings in May, but my grandmother wants one or two now so I'm going to order 5. And build her a duck pen.
Duck eggs are great for baking though!

 

[gimmie birdies]

my daughter wants a duck.

 

[kuhnse51]

I've heard they're awesome for baking! I just don't have anywhere to put them. I've gotten out of hand with the chickens already maybe later in the summer I'll find a place for them hahaha

 

[torilovessmiles]

(Day 17, round 2) I believe I may have had some late deaths. I candled today for last candling, and the embryos appear to not have grown, and only partially fill the egg. I don't see any harm in leaving them in through lockdown though, just in case.
Try, try, try again lol

 

[kuhnse51]

Definitely leave them in just incase, you never know! What has your humidity and temp been throughout the incubation? Maybe they are just behind in the process and will be late hatchers. Have you weighed the eggs at all?

 

[torilovessmiles]

No I haven't weighed the eggs.
I did have a few temperature drops at night because of some wonky winter-spring transitioning temperatures, so I suppose it's possible they'll be late hatchers or even that they couldn't handle the fluctuation. For the most part otherwise it stayed right at 101. I still think it's cool, however, that my basic incubator was able to develop them, so it could be capable of hatching.
Bacteria could be the culprit as well, as they are sitting on a cloth rag in perfect conditions for bacteria growth. I think I'm going to use a little rubber-like mat next time. I may also get a commercial incubator for realistic hatching, I just really want to see this little hunk of foam hatch at least 1 chick