She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[WVduckchick]

not really. I would say between a tsp & tbsp. The membrane on #2 was harder to penetrate.

So they look like they were developing just fine, and just quit for some reason?
I hope someone else has some insight.

 

[chicapee]

On a happier note, will be setting eggs. Ha ha.

 

[RubyNala97]

Out of 30 eggs I set 29, I'm down to 13 now (1 of which looked like it was also quitting) and I haven't even made it to lockdown yet.

ETA: And the woman I got them from won't answer my emails. I've emailed her like 6 times to let her know how things are going and I've asked her several times now if she does end up replacing them could she ship them and she won't answer me.

Oh man, that stinks!! Trust me, I know exactly how you feel...but with shipped eggs, not local. I would expect a lot more from local eggs. I'm wondering if it's the parent stock, the fact that they were filthy, etc. how old were they when you got them? And this is two separate batches? Is one dying over the other?

Megan, that sucks... sorry...

I just wish I didn't have to wait for Spring to set Call eggs... :/
But funny note, I had a neighbor show up wanting to buy my Calls... he seemed really perturbed when I said no... guess he breeds and sells but doesn't have good quality... looked like he wasn't happy when I said they were my breeders...

Haha! Good for you! I can't wait to follow your hatch in the spring! If you have extra eggs, let me know, I will buy them. I'm getting super nervous about hatching them!!

So here they are

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

egg #1

This was the one where the shell started to turn black. Suspected internal pip 3 days early. Pip looked more like a foot not like a bill. But it ended up confirming it was a bill.

Egg #2

both appeared to be fully developed ducklings. Movement noticed on day 21 then nothing on day 24. Temps steady at 100-101 with humidity at 35-45% prior to lockdown. 34 eggs set, 14 duds, 13 quitters, 4 moving and 3 I wasn't sure about. I have a still air incubator with an egg turner. The ones that had the most development seem to be the ones on the outer edges.

Half the eggs came from my flock of Peking, Rouen & Khaki Campbell. They are on pellets along with table & kitchen scraps as well as free ranged until this past week. The other half came from a co worker pair of Rouens. All hens about 7 months old.

I wish I would have told you to take a pic of the egg after you've opened the air cell but not removed the ducklings. It's really hard to see inside the baggy. But they both look like they died before lockdown. I don't think the one that pipped would have made it with all the fluid in the bag. I know that I never have fluid like that if they were alive at lockdown. How did the membrane look? Thick or thin? I'm wondering if it was a weak membrane and the chick accidentally broke through. PLUS, neither egg was even drawn down. Death had to happen before lockdown. I don't know why, though. I would disinfect the incubator, re-calibrate everything and set a small test batch. Maybe just like 8 -10 fresh eggs and try again, keeping a close eye on them and keeping notes of everything. Why is fertility so low?

Congrats!

Sucks to be him, doesn't it..lol

Have you ever checked the temps at the outside of the bator against the temps closer to the center?  I know my bator (and it's a still air) is 1-2 degrees warmer directly under the element that runs around the top than the outside or the center. I adjust my temps for the correct(ish) temp under the elements and place my eggs there and rotate them. That way I don't fry my eggs adjusting to the cooler areas.

I thought you had a fan kit? I swear my brain is fried.

 

[WalnutHill]

I thought you had a fan kit? I swear my brain is fried.

A fan in an LG just means more even roasting or freezing.

My best improvement in incubation techniques was the day I listed those LGs on Craigslist.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Oh man, that stinks!! Trust me, I know exactly how you feel...but with shipped eggs, not local. I would expect a lot more from local eggs. I'm wondering if it's the parent stock, the fact that they were filthy, etc. how old were they when you got them? And this is two separate batches? Is one dying over the other?

Haha! Good for you! I can't wait to follow your hatch in the spring! If you have extra eggs, let me know, I will buy them. I'm getting super nervous about hatching them!!
I wish I would have told you to take a pic of the egg after you've opened the air cell but not removed the ducklings. It's really hard to see inside the baggy. But they both look like they died before lockdown. I don't think the one that pipped would have made it with all the fluid in the bag. I know that I never have fluid like that if they were alive at lockdown. How did the membrane look? Thick or thin? I'm wondering if it was a weak membrane and the chick accidentally broke through. PLUS, neither egg was even drawn down. Death had to happen before lockdown. I don't know why, though. I would disinfect the incubator, re-calibrate everything and set a small test batch. Maybe just like 8 -10 fresh eggs and try again, keeping a close eye on them and keeping notes of everything. Why is fertility so low?
I thought you had a fan kit? I swear my brain is fried.

It's not your brain, it's mine...lol I could have sworn I typed (forced air) lol I'm shot!

 

[lazy gardener]

The batch of EE babies I was photographing in the spring would poop when the flash went off. I had to flash each one on a piece of paper, then put them on the stage for the real pic and shoot fast before they figured out what was going on.

The flash must scare the c**p out of them.

Today is 19-20... as of 6:30 pm it will "officially" be day 20. I figure tonight/tomorrow morning will probably be the pips. I've been thinking something went wrong because nothing was happening yesterday/today, and only slight movement of one of the eggs last night. But there were 2 or more voices talking in there... So happy!

Isn't that just the most awesome sound????

I am getting really hacked off. The neighbors beagles haven't shut up for days. Then when they are quiet for a minute they yell yip yip yip to start them up again.

The owners get them barking? Can you do anything about it???

 

[Ravynscroft]

So here they are

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

egg #1

This was the one where the shell started to turn black. Suspected internal pip 3 days early. Pip looked more like a foot not like a bill. But it ended up confirming it was a bill.

Egg #2

both appeared to be fully developed ducklings. Movement noticed on day 21 then nothing on day 24. Temps steady at 100-101 with humidity at 35-45% prior to lockdown. 34 eggs set, 14 duds, 13 quitters, 4 moving and 3 I wasn't sure about. I have a still air incubator with an egg turner. The ones that had the most development seem to be the ones on the outer edges.

Half the eggs came from my flock of Peking, Rouen & Khaki Campbell. They are on pellets along with table & kitchen scraps as well as free ranged until this past week. The other half came from a co worker pair of Rouens. All hens about 7 months old.

There is way too much liquid still in the egg... can see from the candling... they are drowning before they can pip... what is your average ambient humidity there?

Congrats!

Sucks to be him, doesn't it..lol

Have you ever checked the temps at the outside of the bator against the temps closer to the center?  I know my bator (and it's a forced air) is 1-2 degrees warmer directly under the element that runs around the top than the outside or the center. I adjust my temps for the correct(ish) temp under the elements and place my eggs there and rotate them. That way I don't fry my eggs adjusting to the cooler areas.

It was all I could do to not laugh in his face... he just kept repeating "but I was told you had Calls for sale..."

I am getting really hacked off. The neighbors beagles haven't shut up for days. Then when they are quiet for a minute they yell yip yip yip to start them up again.

Call in a noise complaint... local Sheriff's office... even in the country there are disturbing the peace laws...

Oh man, that stinks!! Trust me, I know exactly how you feel...but with shipped eggs, not local. I would expect a lot more from local eggs. I'm wondering if it's the parent stock, the fact that they were filthy, etc. how old were they when you got them? And this is two separate batches? Is one dying over the other?
Haha! Good for you! I can't wait to follow your hatch in the spring! If you have extra eggs, let me know, I will buy them. I'm getting super nervous about hatching them!!
I wish I would have told you to take a pic of the egg after you've opened the air cell but not removed the ducklings. It's really hard to see inside the baggy. But they both look like they died before lockdown. I don't think the one that pipped would have made it with all the fluid in the bag. I know that I never have fluid like that if they were alive at lockdown. How did the membrane look? Thick or thin? I'm wondering if it was a weak membrane and the chick accidentally broke through. PLUS, neither egg was even drawn down. Death had to happen before lockdown. I don't know why, though. I would disinfect the incubator, re-calibrate everything and set a small test batch. Maybe just like 8 -10 fresh eggs and try again, keeping a close eye on them and keeping notes of everything. Why is fertility so low?
I thought you had a fan kit? I swear my brain is fried.

I've gotta hatch every egg for a while once they start laying... I am not sure when I might release eggs, but you and WV will be the first to know...

 

[OldMissionChick]

Oh man, that stinks!! Trust me, I know exactly how you feel...but with shipped eggs, not local. I would expect a lot more from local eggs. I'm wondering if it's the parent stock, the fact that they were filthy, etc. how old were they when you got them? And this is two separate batches? Is one dying over the other?
Haha! Good for you! I can't wait to follow your hatch in the spring! If you have extra eggs, let me know, I will buy them. I'm getting super nervous about hatching them!!
I wish I would have told you to take a pic of the egg after you've opened the air cell but not removed the ducklings. It's really hard to see inside the baggy. But they both look like they died before lockdown. I don't think the one that pipped would have made it with all the fluid in the bag. I know that I never have fluid like that if they were alive at lockdown. How did the membrane look? Thick or thin? I'm wondering if it was a weak membrane and the chick accidentally broke through. PLUS, neither egg was even drawn down. Death had to happen before lockdown. I don't know why, though. I would disinfect the incubator, re-calibrate everything and set a small test batch. Maybe just like 8 -10 fresh eggs and try again, keeping a close eye on them and keeping notes of everything. Why is fertility so low?
I thought you had a fan kit? I swear my brain is fried.

idk why fertility is low my KC's are for sure doing their job

 

[WalnutHill]

@chicapee Borrow every rooster you can find and encourage a crowing contest.

 

[chicapee]

The flash must scare the c**p out of them.

Isn't that just the most awesome sound????

The owners get them barking?  Can you do anything about it???

I am going to have to go and have a little chat with them tomorrow. I am too angry to go right now. If that fails then I will call the sheriff. Bloody red neck renters.