Need advice on hatching please

[Miss Lydia]

Well re-reading helped a ease my concern. Saw movement with candling so it should be ok. Will keep an eye on it until I go to bed, while trying to get the humidity stabilized at a good level.

Hopefully the chicks won't be far behind.


Internet connection got bogged down...ran a quick errand after having typed that, and the talker is already zipping, about a half inch past the original opening, won't be long now.

Hoping all is well this morning and you have a duckling or 2.

 

[Eliza1313]

Not yet. The talker started turning one way, and did not get very far. Woke up in the middle of the night and it was still at the same spot, wacking at air and cheeping it's frustration. Now it has started turning the other way and is making progress again. May have lost the other one, not hearing anything or seeing movement and no progress. Debating on trying to assist or not.

 

[WVduckchick]

I had one that had gone an inch or two, then stopped. I gave it to 48 hours from initial pip. When I checked it at 48 hours, it was gone. So I had 2 others that were working pips, and didn't want it to happen to them. One was at 36 hours, so I widened the pip, chipped a little of the air cell off, cleared its bill and went to bed. The other was only at 24 hours, so I just made sure the pip hole was open and moist. At 2:00am, I chipped more of the older one's shell off, and the blood vessels looked much better. One was wrapped around his head, but I was able to clear it. His body was stuck pretty good, but I used Vaseline and moistened him up really well. Got up at 5:00 and both had hatched. I thought I was going to have to cull the one that I assisted, it was kinda twisted up, but within an hour or so, it was fine!
Checked the rest of my eggs, all DIS, so I'm done. 3 out of 7 duckies.

I think my humidity was too low for the ducks, but my chicks hatched great, so I think I'll not incubated ducks and chicks together, unless I use another hatcher.

Best of luck on whatever you decide to do. I hate going in too soon, but it hurts to wait too. Go with your gut!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I had one that had gone an inch or two, then stopped. I gave it to 48 hours from initial pip. When I checked it at 48 hours, it was gone. So I had 2 others that were working pips, and didn't want it to happen to them. One was at 36 hours, so I widened the pip, chipped a little of the air cell off, cleared its bill and went to bed. The other was only at 24 hours, so I just made sure the pip hole was open and moist. At 2:00am, I chipped more of the older one's shell off, and the blood vessels looked much better. One was wrapped around his head, but I was able to clear it. His body was stuck pretty good, but I used Vaseline and moistened him up really well. Got up at 5:00 and both had hatched. I thought I was going to have to cull the one that I assisted, it was kinda twisted up, but within an hour or so, it was fine!
Checked the rest of my eggs, all DIS, so I'm done. 3 out of 7 duckies.

I think my humidity was too low for the ducks, but my chicks hatched great, so I think I'll not incubated ducks and chicks together, unless I use another hatcher.

Best of luck on whatever you decide to do. I hate going in too soon, but it hurts to wait too. Go with your gut!

Look at that. so precious Congrats WV.

 

[Eliza1313]

So there is a steep learning curve, at least for me, with incubating.

Only one duckling hatched. Seems to be strong and fairly healthy. It's toes/feet keep curling backwards. Splinted with tape overnight, working on a splint made from cutting up a cereal box. Going to stretch and exercise it several times a day. Let it have a swim, that seemed to help. Will be trying to find some brood mates for it.

They were all large, so I think that had to do with the high humidity. However I think it was me finally getting the humidity lower by adding the rice that caused the problem. Only one chick pipped internally and had absorbed most of it's yolk, but didn't make it. Then I had one duck do the same, the other duck that didn't make it pipped a little too low through both the inner membrane and shell at the same time.

WVduckchick - congrats on the little ones making it through hatch, hope they all do well

 

[WVduckchick]

So there is a steep learning curve, at least for me, with incubating.

Only one duckling hatched. Seems to be strong and fairly healthy. It's toes/feet keep curling backwards. Splinted with tape overnight, working on a splint made from cutting up a cereal box. Going to stretch and exercise it several times a day. Let it have a swim, that seemed to help. Will be trying to find some brood mates for it.

They were all large, so I think that had to do with the high humidity. However I think it was me finally getting the humidity lower by adding the rice that caused the problem. Only one chick pipped internally and had absorbed most of it's yolk, but didn't make it. Then I had one duck do the same, the other duck that didn't make it pipped a little too low through both the inner membrane and shell at the same time.

WVduckchick - congrats on the little ones making it through hatch, hope they all do well

Awww...

But you are right, and it sounds like you learned a lot from it, so it will be better next time. Its sad for the little ones we lose, but we just try to do better each time and hope for the best. Post a pic when you get a chance!

 

[Eliza1313]

I will try to post a pic later today.

Learned a lot. Definitely will test/calibrate thermometers and hygrometers next time. I now know what an internal pip looks like and how to check for it. Seeing pictures is just not the same as seeing it 3-D. Also with having opened them all up to check for life, I have the technique down to assist if one stalls after internally pipping. Going to make a new thread asking how others who incubate in humid environments manage.

Planning on setting more eggs when I worm them, no sense in throwing away the eggs. With the breeds I have in the pens I can get some sex linked chicks. Just have to put a divider between the eggs from my barred girls and the rest.

Edit: Oh and semi-permanently borrow a drake from a friend. She has too many drakes at the moment, is planning on keeping 3, but 1 is to stay here so if predators get the other 2 she can get him back.

 

[Eliza1313]

Did not get a chance to post yesterday. Here is the little guy in braces to try to get his feet straight.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Did not get a chance to post yesterday. Here is the little guy in braces to try to get his feet straight.

How are the shoes working out? such a cutie

 

[Eliza1313]

They seem to be working well. He was able to get around on them decently last night. Found his left leg splayed out this morning so added half of a bandaid to try to correct it.