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

[katrinag]

Did you get a chance to candle it today?

 

[vfem]

No I haven't had a chance to breathe today! LOL

I went out earlier and 2 were sticking out from under her. As soon as my husband gets home and can watch my daughter, I'm going to try to candle them. I need to find a flashlight with working batteries too.

 

[katrinag]

LOL. I can never find a flashlight that works when I need it. That is why I went with the crank up ones, but they do not candle well.

 

[vfem]

Quote:
I bought a camping light with rechargeable battery we use to go fishing and keep inside for emergencies... but its huge and not good for what I need it for now.

I do have....oh.... 12 flash lights... all dead! LOL

 

[OzarkCountryGirl]

I have a 2008 hatched Buff Orpington that had just started laying (think she has laid only 3 or 4 eggs) and now she's gone broody. I've never had a chicken go broody so young, much less a Buff Orp.

She is bound and determined to sit, so I've got 7 Welsh Harlequin duck eggs under her. She's been on them for the past 10 days and so far she's not budging, so hopefully she will hatch them out. It couldn't have come at a better time, because a few days ago a dog got hold of our only WH drake and really did a number on him.

He's my daughter's pet and we thought at first that his neck was broken, but after close examination, it was found that his neck wasn't broken, but that his entire chest area was ripped open. The wound was completely hidden under his thick layer of breast feathers. He's been in the house since the attack and under 24/7 care. Although his neck/head does not have a good range of motion due to the pain and loss of chest muscle, each day is finding him stronger. With any luck, he will be back to his old dog-tormenting self in a couple of weeks.

Anyway we are hoping we will end up with a correctly marked drake out of the lot. Of course some hens would be nice, too.

 

[vfem]

good luck... after something so sad, it would nice to have some happiness from the birth of new ducklings!

I'm still watching her like a hawk, but I just got home 30 minutes ago and have not found a functioning flash light to candle the eggs. Everytime I check the box though, I can see one or 2 eggs poking out. She's moving in a clockwise circle with the eggs in the nesting box. (Head in the center and turning like clock hands!) If I go to push them back under she quickly gathers them all back under her. I want to candle them ASAP... because if any are not developing I don't want her wasting time on any. I know they are a bit too large and too many for her. Otherwise, I'll leave all 4 if they seem to be developing.

Now I've been looking for photos of what to look for in a 'correctly' developing egg. So far I've seen pictures of 'blood rings' and 'bad eggs' that weren't developing correctly. What should I see with these eggs only being 4 days in? Should I see a dark spot with veins as I've heard. I just want to make sure I do this correctly, and can distinguish properly developing eggs.

 

[vfem]

Ok, I candled them and didn't see anything accept the air sac, yolk (which moved but barely) and dirt. I think the eggs are still a bit too dirty from being in a muddy nest. I wiped some of the dirt and hay bits off the eggs, but they are still kinda dirty. I was told NOT to wash the eggs or they wouldn't be a successful hatch for sure.

I am not going to candle them again until next week, I still think it was too early at this point to see anything.

 

[vfem]

Alright, candled my ducks today on Day 7. One did not develop, but we cracked it open and saw it was fertile. The other 3 eggs left, I did see veining in... and dark spots in each one. I didn't see anything that resembled a blood ring or anything. So right now, I think we're good to go on 3.

That 4th egg was VERY porish though... and had a small odd shaping on the pointy end. I don't think it was the best egg to try... but like I said, I got 4 free and popped 4 under her.

It did turn out that this was the egg she's been kicking out from under her all this time! She knew!!!!

 

[katrinag]

That is great to here that you have good ones developing.

 

[wegotchickens]

That is so cool that the questionable egg was being kicked out! And a duck egg, at that. Maybe it smelled funny to her? Or just different? "Three of things belong together, 3 of these things are kinda the same..." (Sesame Street from 35 years ago

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