My chicken's broody, so I just gave in... (**Both Ducklings Are Out**)

[vfem]

Day 19 and I'm getting so impatient... I'm trying to keep myself from candling again... especially since the chicken is still setting all 3 and no one smells or anything.

In fact, I got 2 broody girls and they are sharing the eggs. So I figure on day 21-25 if my original hen loses her broodiness my second one started later on so she'll be able to take over for the long haul. Seeing duck eggs take longer to develop then a chicken, its my greatest fear they give up before they are done and ready to hatch at 28-30 days!

 

[hnbubz]

i say candle again, i wanna see the little duckies XD

 

[vfem]

There is a video on the last page from day 13. It was so cool to see them moving around in there!

This is my first hatch.

 

[hnbubz]

i saw that, it was amazing! have you ever really thought of how amazing the whole egg thing really is, you get a egg with nothing but a yellow yolk, and it grows into an amazing chick or duck, all in one little egg. truly a miracle.

 

[vfem]

Now on day 21, I finally broke down and candled again today.

2 eggs were good and dark. I could make out there little bodies, legs and I thought I could make out where the head was on them. I saw one of the legs kick on one and that was so cool!!!

Again, the 3rd is making me uncomfortable... it looks way under developed and I'm afraid it stopped developing and gave up. It appears to be similiar to a day 16 photo I saw online. Its not dark like the others. I can seem more light through the eggs, and the embryo appears to have stopped at HALF the size of the others. I'm afraid to pull it and call it a goner yet. I put him back under mama hen with the others.

I will candle one last time on the 14th, they are due to hatch on the 17th. If he still looks like he has no more growing and its over for him... I'll remove him then.

For now... we're due in 1 week!!!!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
One way you could tell is to check the veins. If the baby has died the veins will disappear.

 

[vfem]

Thats what worries me.... I do see the veins! So there may be a chance he'll just be a runt when he's born!? Or maybe the veins will be gone in a day or so. I'm still crossing my fingers...

I only wanted 2 ducks, but the third would be nice... even if not for me, I know my neighbor would love to have one of their own.

Maybe I'll check him again tomorrow, and take a video so anyone who wants to try to guess can tell me what they think?

 

[hnbubz]

good luck! i hope it all turns out well

 

[chicken_ladyGA]

How much longer ?

 

[Feathers Acres]

22 more days for me

agggh I want to candle so bad and see how many are developing


but I can't :|



sittin on my finger right now lol