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- #31
Well, here's an update on what happened: ^&*()##%@((( WARNING... Eggtopsy photos below.... do not scroll if you don't want to see)))))))) &*^$#@@&
7 Duck eggs and 1 Turkey egg survived to lockdown, from original 14 ducks (4 of those infertile) and 4 turkey eggs (1 of those infertile) Lost the others along the way.
First duck to hatch (Juice) came out at 3:30 pm on 3/21/15 - (22-1/2 hours from pip to out)
Second duck to hatch (Tiggy) pipped first but didn't come out until 7:00 pm on 3/21/15 - (37-40 hours pip to out, not sure of exact time of pip)
Next came the one turkey - it came out an hour later at 8:00 pm on 3/21/15 - (20 hours from pip to out)
Third duck to hatch (Opie) came out at 7:00 pm on 3/22/15 - (25-1/2 hours from pip to out)
Fourth duck to hatch (Chibs) pipped just below the air sac around 4 pm on 3/21. It made a good sized hole and seemed to be breathing comfortably for a long time. I had removed the first 2, plus the turkey before Opie and Chibs hatched. Once Opie had hatched, he rolled Chibs all over the incubator, but I kept watch, and could hear Chibs chirping and could usually see inside the hole and could tell he was still alive. Finally on the morning of 3/23, I awoke to find a couple more fractures in the shell, close to the original hole. I was prepared to wait 48 hours, then I figured I would have to intervene and remove the shell at the air sac. So I went to work in the morning, knowing I should wait until around 4:00 pm to intervene. I couldn't stand being at work, so I came home at noon to find he had exited on his own!! From looking at the empty shell, where the initial hole was so close to the air sac, he finally entered the air sac and zipped it the way around. I suspect he had some assistance from his incubator mate! So although I don't know exactly what time he came out, I am guessing 9:00ish, judging from how dry he was when I got home. So that would put it at around 41 hours from pip to out.
This is Opie sitting on top of Chibs. The pip hole is just between his butt and top of his leg.
Here is a pic of the 5, all fluffed up and happy. The turkey likes to sleep standing up between all the ducks.
Lower left = Opie, Lower right - Chibs, Rear left = Tiggy, Rear Right (head behind turkey - Juice)
Ok, so that leaves 3 eggs that quit after lockdown.
I opened them up and I suspect that the power outage may have affected them, or maybe Mother Nature. But anyway, here they are:
Egg #2. For some reason, its legs are totally encased in the yolk sac. I'm not sure why. If anyone has seen anything like this and has an opinion, I'd love to know.
Egg #3 was very, very close, but was sideways in the shell. Its beak was nowhere close to the air sac. I guess that's what made it give up. As you can see, the yolk is almost absorbed, and appears well developed. It was missing one eye, or the eye was closed off. I couldn't tell for sure.
Egg #5 - this one had a leg up above its head and was sideways in the shell. Notice the left leg is very small and not developed. The right leg was close to normal. Yolk sac was being absorbed, so this one was close too, but would likely have been deformed and unable to walk.
All in all, I am very happy with the success, especially considering so long without power to the incubator. Also, at lockdown, I could tell that all 3 of these eggs had issues, but were still alive and kicking. There were large "clear" areas, with no blood vessels running through them. I assumed if they hatched, they would be "sticky", but they never made it that far. Overall, I think Mother Nature was right in letting these drift away. I believe they all would have had issues anyway. At least that makes me feel better. I still have to wonder if the huge temp drop at day 14 had anything to do with it, but the surviving mates all appear darn-near perfect, in my opinion. (yes, I'm biased lol)
Anyway.... comments are welcomed!
7 Duck eggs and 1 Turkey egg survived to lockdown, from original 14 ducks (4 of those infertile) and 4 turkey eggs (1 of those infertile) Lost the others along the way.
First duck to hatch (Juice) came out at 3:30 pm on 3/21/15 - (22-1/2 hours from pip to out)
Second duck to hatch (Tiggy) pipped first but didn't come out until 7:00 pm on 3/21/15 - (37-40 hours pip to out, not sure of exact time of pip)
Next came the one turkey - it came out an hour later at 8:00 pm on 3/21/15 - (20 hours from pip to out)
Third duck to hatch (Opie) came out at 7:00 pm on 3/22/15 - (25-1/2 hours from pip to out)
Fourth duck to hatch (Chibs) pipped just below the air sac around 4 pm on 3/21. It made a good sized hole and seemed to be breathing comfortably for a long time. I had removed the first 2, plus the turkey before Opie and Chibs hatched. Once Opie had hatched, he rolled Chibs all over the incubator, but I kept watch, and could hear Chibs chirping and could usually see inside the hole and could tell he was still alive. Finally on the morning of 3/23, I awoke to find a couple more fractures in the shell, close to the original hole. I was prepared to wait 48 hours, then I figured I would have to intervene and remove the shell at the air sac. So I went to work in the morning, knowing I should wait until around 4:00 pm to intervene. I couldn't stand being at work, so I came home at noon to find he had exited on his own!! From looking at the empty shell, where the initial hole was so close to the air sac, he finally entered the air sac and zipped it the way around. I suspect he had some assistance from his incubator mate! So although I don't know exactly what time he came out, I am guessing 9:00ish, judging from how dry he was when I got home. So that would put it at around 41 hours from pip to out.
This is Opie sitting on top of Chibs. The pip hole is just between his butt and top of his leg.
Here is a pic of the 5, all fluffed up and happy. The turkey likes to sleep standing up between all the ducks.
Lower left = Opie, Lower right - Chibs, Rear left = Tiggy, Rear Right (head behind turkey - Juice)
Ok, so that leaves 3 eggs that quit after lockdown.
I opened them up and I suspect that the power outage may have affected them, or maybe Mother Nature. But anyway, here they are:
Egg #2. For some reason, its legs are totally encased in the yolk sac. I'm not sure why. If anyone has seen anything like this and has an opinion, I'd love to know.
Egg #3 was very, very close, but was sideways in the shell. Its beak was nowhere close to the air sac. I guess that's what made it give up. As you can see, the yolk is almost absorbed, and appears well developed. It was missing one eye, or the eye was closed off. I couldn't tell for sure.
Egg #5 - this one had a leg up above its head and was sideways in the shell. Notice the left leg is very small and not developed. The right leg was close to normal. Yolk sac was being absorbed, so this one was close too, but would likely have been deformed and unable to walk.
All in all, I am very happy with the success, especially considering so long without power to the incubator. Also, at lockdown, I could tell that all 3 of these eggs had issues, but were still alive and kicking. There were large "clear" areas, with no blood vessels running through them. I assumed if they hatched, they would be "sticky", but they never made it that far. Overall, I think Mother Nature was right in letting these drift away. I believe they all would have had issues anyway. At least that makes me feel better. I still have to wonder if the huge temp drop at day 14 had anything to do with it, but the surviving mates all appear darn-near perfect, in my opinion. (yes, I'm biased lol)
Anyway.... comments are welcomed!
congrats on the new fuzz butts!
