setting eggs today, anyone want to join me??

[Tiss]

I don't know for ducks. I guess the best you can do is keep it warm and give it time.

 

[destin0709]

It's detached now hopefully it will be ok. Seems to be wore out. The calls seem to have a much harder time breaking threw their shells. The 2 chicks I hatched last week just broke shell straight across and whole top popped off. The duck had to wiggle alot more the skin under the shell just wouldn't break. My humidity is 75-77%. 23 more to go, I am so nervous now it's gonna be a long night and next few days. .

 

[destin0709]

3 duckies out, 1 more to go. No more pips yet.

 

[Tiss]

Be sure to post pics of them all fluffed out!

How is the first one doing?

 

[alaina]

Well, I am down to 12 healthy chicks at this point. Lost the 4 that I helped out, guess it wasn't meant to be....

Then we lost 2 of the ones that hatched by themselves, just found them lying down, acting slow, not interested in feed, water, panting a little. So, out of 44 eggs, 2/3 of them shipped, I have 12 healthy babies. Don't remember where the thread is about the percentages of hatching, but would like to post mine as part of it if someone knows where it is?

What about you happyfarmlady and how are the ducks doing destin?? Tiss how are your babies??

 

[destin0709]

Oh alaina I'm sorry about your babies!

So far I have 3 fully out, 1 head out but still sitting in egg (looks weak), and 2 more pips. Still waiting on the rest.

 

[dconf]

 

[Tiss]

I'm so sorry for your losses. I bought three orpington chicks for my first broody and only one made it. It's so hard to lose them. This blue is the only one left and she (I hope) is so spoiled by her mama.

I'm not sure if I posted it here, but 3 of Red's chicks just vanished overnight last week! She has 2 EE's and 2 BCM's left. So far they have been doing fine in the small coop in the run. I let them out in the run when the other girls are out free-ranging.

Yesterday, Red scratched up a grub. One of her little punks took it and ran off. She chased that baby forever before finally getting that grub back. "Dang it, chick, I'm going to teach you to share!" It was hysterical.

I'm hoping at least one of the marans is a pullet. I've been trying for a year to get those dark eggs!!!

In other news, chicken addiction must be contagious. Last Friday, DH adopted 7 18-week pullets (3 RIR, 3 BO and an EE) an acquaintance of his wanted to rehome so he could have his dog kennel back for his puppy. I've been calling them "Jeff's Flock". He is denying ownership. I think he was tired of being told that he can't eat the eggs because I have them all sold.

I had to convert the kids' playground into a coop so I could quarantine them from my other flock. (That will teach the kids to go to camp for a week!)

Hope all the remaining babies are doing great!

 

[destin0709]

I have so far 9 call babies that seem to be doing OK. And 1 baby that is still to weak to push out of egg and isn't moving much or peeping at all. I tried some electrolytes but wont even open its mouth. I don't think it will make it. I lost 13 babies that were fully developed but didn't hatch. So out of shipped eggs I have 9/maybe 10 out of 31. I don't know if that's a good hatch rate but I am happy with just the 9 or 10.

I will get pics of all of them soon.

 

[Tiss]

Quote:
Can't wait to see pics! This "chicken math" (or duck math) can get discouraging.