My first incubation experience!

[ahmedamir]

Ok so just candled our 19 egg, 13 fertilized, 2 not sure, they are very dark eggs and 4 definitely not fertilized.....so exciting. My kids are super excited to. So next weekend they should begin their hatching process. Thanks for all the videos, I obsessively watched them today and knew exactly what to look for. So here is hoping we have some good results next weekend.

Glad to hear that. Best of luck with the hatch. I too am @ day 14 with my batch. Though, not sure of the count . Just a word of advice. Don't move the unsure ones out of the bator. Let them be there throughout the complete process. Don't throw anyone out unless you are 100% sure about the infertility i.e. 100% clear egg even after that much days.

 

[azer]

Pictures please!

...

ok...here we have ducklings, just a short time after they hatched...and some updates on the chicks. The last photo is of chick number 5, it has curly frizz. it may be a Frizzle...I'm not sure, I'll have to check with the people I got the eggs from. This last photo shows the chick going to sleep in my hand. Chick 5 is very small, I had to introduce it to the others one at a time in a separate box as the older chicks were pecking at it. They're all in together now and seem to be getting on ok. The ducklings are now also in the brooder, in a separate box under the heater...to give them some peace while they get stronger. I'll post more pics of the duckling when they're all fluffed up. [/quo

 

[Dr Norah]

Glad to hear that. Best of luck with the hatch. I too am @ day 14 with my batch. Though, not sure of the count . Just a word of advice. Don't move the unsure ones out of the bator. Let them be there throughout the complete process. Don't throw anyone out unless you are 100% sure about the infertility i.e. 100% clear egg even after that much days.

Haven't taken any out yet.....even the clear Ines.....should I take the definite empty ones out

 

[charcamchickens]

ok...update on chick 5. Found him/her this morning away from the heater lying face down, not moving! It felt cold but as soon as I picked it up it took a breath...so begins a full day of nursing. I give it a gentle rub to get the circulation going, warmed up in my hands. It started breathing again ;-) I then put it back in the incubator...took about an hour but very slowly it regained consciousness and started lifting its head. I then started every hour since then..taking it out and helping it to drink. I made a sloppy soup from chick feed and water mushed up, I then basically dipped his beak it and tried to scoop some up...took ages. Now it is standing up in the incubator, walking around a bit and cheeping....I am very happy! It is not out of the woods yet though...I will keep up the routine hopefully until I can put it back in the brooder. I am hoping it will be ok in the incubator for while longer...but for now success!

 

[azer]

I heard that sugar water is good for them..

ok...update on chick 5. Found him/her this morning away from the heater lying face down, not moving! It felt cold but as soon as I picked it up it took a breath...so begins a full day of nursing. I give it a gentle rub to get the circulation going, warmed up in my hands. It started breathing again ;-) I then put it back in the incubator...took about an hour but very slowly it regained consciousness and started lifting its head. I then started every hour since then..taking it out and helping it to drink. I made a sloppy soup from chick feed and water mushed up, I then basically dipped his beak it and tried to scoop some up...took ages. Now it is standing up in the incubator, walking around a bit and cheeping....I am very happy! It is not out of the woods yet though...I will keep up the routine hopefully until I can put it back in the brooder. I am hoping it will be ok in the incubator for  while longer...but for now success!

 

[Farm Mommy]

I do hope chick5 is okay! I have had a few weak ones before. One I had to put down after several days of trying. It was so hard for me to do. I have had great success with the the probiotic packs you just add water too. I get them at Tractor Supply. We have 13 out of 14 that have hatched. Mamma is still sitting on egg 14. It's not letting me post pics from my phone. they are sooooo cute. Maybe I will take a pic from my camera and try downloading it. Please let us know how #5 is doing.

 

[charcamchickens]

Thanks Azer, might try the sugar water trick tomorrow.

Chick 5 is still with us...just about! After the last feed I gave it a little shallow bath in warm water just to clean its bottom regions and check its vent was clear. It had some poop stuck on so I got rid of that. It also has a sort of black little lump below the vent...I thought this was what was left of the yolk..is that right? If so how long does it take to go...if not what should I do? Chick 5 back in the incubator now, almost dried off...still very unsteady but cheeping away and looks reasonably comfortable. On the feed...how much should I give it, not sure if I'm giving it too much/too little. I'm still giving it my chick feed soup. Luckily I'm off work for 2 days Mon/Tues so I can keep monitoring the situation. I will probably set my alarm for the middle of the night tonight just to have a quick check. The other chicks are doing really well...lots of new feathers on wings and tails and are using the whole space in the brooder now. The ducklings have just had another little swim in my bathroom sink...one of them suddenly realised it could dive...so funny to watch...it got really excited when it discovered this new talent! I have 8 adult ducks and visiting Mallards so I'm used to it on our pond but it was really cute to see the ducklings do it in the sink!

 

[charcamchickens]

For the sugar water...silly question but is that just sugar dissolved into warm water?

 

[loveourbirds]

yes, just put 1 teaspoon per quart or 1 tablespoon per gallon. it helps keep them hydrated and energetic. if you have one that has pasty bottom sugar water will normally help it along. make sure you keep the paste cleaned off.

 

[Farm Mommy]

I am so happy 5 is still with us. Sometime it just takes time and love. Sounds like your doing everything right. The only thing I can think of it giving him a buddy or two. I have always done this with my little ones when they needed extra care. This way they are not lonely... and I think it helps when you introduce them back to the rest of the group. I have had a single chick get ganged up on. But never a problem when it's two or three. I tend to always do groups of three.