Thread formerly known as Hatch day is today

I've been using cotton cloth diapers on top of some cheap white dish towels (NOT terry cloth) that I got at Walmart just for this purpose. I got the "flour sack" towels, which aren't super absorbent, but they are 100% cotton and a very fine weave, so no strings. I got another kind that was a cotton blend, also a fine weave, but a little more absorbent than the flour sack towels. They are working great. I forgot how messy ducklings are.


That was actually my concern about a dish towel... strings and fuzzy tips. But I agree about traction being so critical and cheese cloth (and paper towels for that matter) do not provide that. QJ, I will look for rubber shelf liner. If I have that, I may try that instead of the towel.
 
Celtic, thanks!!!! You are the best!!!!
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Julie, the first could be from our black split to Lav or Lav Ameracuana hens that are running around here. She appears very silvery in the pic which makes me think atleast 1 Lav parent.

I think she'll be pretty. And I am just loving her beard.

Of course, she was the first to hatch so maybe the others beards aren't as fluffed yet but she's my favorite so far.
 
What hatchery are you guys waiting on? I'm waiting for Boondockers, but they don't have a estimated duckling availability yet. I was hoping that they would have some this week so I could add them to my Aurora Springs Anconas. Oh well.

Chicken - I love your Anconas. I like the ducks with the smaller, spaced out patches, too.


Negative. So Po'd. Waiting...... if I'd known this would be such a long wait.. I wouldn't have gotten them. By the time I get them and then wait 28 days... It will be next spring before I can do anything with them! UGH!


That's a bunch of crap. Julie Ancona lays better than my RIR's. Go pick up 6 eggs and freakin' mail them to me. Really?
 
Hi everyone! (There are like 9 people listed as in the room, so blanket hello)
frow.gif


Glad its Wednesday, this has been a crazy week. Makes late night hatchings look inviting, I'm telling ya!

Iain, i'm so glad for your wonderful hatch!
hugs.gif
You are turning into a regular waterfowl Midwife! Maybe you picked the wrong field. LOL

CG looking forward to the report on what you buy at the swap meet.

Celtic I appreciate how willing you are to share the gift of your experience here.

Its so fun to read about everyones hatchings. It's interesting to me that the more I research (here and juried articles on waterfowl incubation and hatching) the more I'm convinced that if the egg is basically sound, and didn't sustain strange shipping damange, the babies just find a way. Some sights and folks really watch and pick when to move based on pips and movement, and others are by the book, day X they lockdown, and everyone gets hatches reasonably often. I've about decided to just stop worrying about it.
hu.gif
I always lock down my own duck eggs at day 25. I've never hatched a goose in my life, and my mom always left it to the embdens (the chinese were lousy sitters). I don't know what to do with the goose eggs, for lockdown time. My new lgiht really only shows empty spaces and air, so I'll barely be able to see internal pip, but I will be able to see the big change when the goose turns and gets situated (I hope).

I'm bummed that last night when I candled, I've lost the last 2 of 7 old english game fowl my elder DD really wanted. I havn't told her yet, but I've tried to prepare her for the fact that shipped eggs are all packaged with varying degrees of skill, and these were not awesome. I've lost about 40% of the silkies that ever showed ebryos at all. Now I think there are 4 o 12. The only ruddy things cooporating are the Muscovy and some goose eggs.

My new goose eggs are really watery, andnot firm. With my light, I still can't see yolks on goose eggs. I don't know if I'll get a single one out of them, but It's only day 4 though, so we'll see.
 
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Thanks, Marty.
hugs.gif
I told hubby at the start of day 26 that his job was to take care of all living creatures so I could focus 100% on the eggs. There was no way I was going to bed on night 26, especially knowing I had the high temp/humidity spike with these guys. I was h*ll bent on having a good hatch this time.

As for the goose eggs... it is pretty easy to tell. Candle while egg is laying dip side up. You will see shadows creep up the bottom into aircell pretty easily, even in really porous eggs (like my toulouse). In fact, I candled my guys about 10 minutes ago and I am seeing shadows where there were none 6 hours ago.
 
Ok here it goes.


Regular wing
eedaaeb0.jpg


Angel wing (note this duckling had its wing turned out for the photo & does not have AW)
d0268033.jpg


Tucking wing tip
66427561.jpg


Starting the wrap
0471506f.jpg


Around the body
6e8d51e7.jpg


I like to figure 8 around the body and tail leaving the legs free
7485ef2c.jpg
 
Hi everyone! (There are like 9 people listed as in the room, so blanket hello)
frow.gif


Glad its Wednesday, this has been a crazy week. Makes late night hatchings look inviting, I'm telling ya!

Iain, i'm so glad for your wonderful hatch!
hugs.gif
You are turning into a regular waterfowl Midwife! Maybe you picked the wrong field. LOL

CG looking forward to the report on what you buy at the swap meet.

Celtic I appreciate how willing you are to share the gift of your experience here.

Its so fun to read about everyones hatchings. It's interesting to me that the more I research (here and juried articles on waterfowl incubation and hatching) the more I'm convinced that if the egg is basically sound, and didn't sustain strange shipping damange, the babies just find a way. Some sights and folks really watch and pick when to move based on pips and movement, and others are by the book, day X they lockdown, and everyone gets hatches reasonably often. I've about decided to just stop worrying about it.
hu.gif
I always lock down my own duck eggs at day 25. I've never hatched a goose in my life, and my mom always left it to the embdens (the chinese were lousy sitters). I don't know what to do with the goose eggs, for lockdown time. My new lgiht really only shows empty spaces and air, so I'll barely be able to see internal pip, but I will be able to see the big change when the goose turns and gets situated (I hope).

I'm bummed that last night when I candled, I've lost the last 2 of 7 old english game fowl my elder DD really wanted. I havn't told her yet, but I've tried to prepare her for the fact that shipped eggs are all packaged with varying degrees of skill, and these were not awesome. I've lost about 40% of the silkies that ever showed ebryos at all. Now I think there are 4 o 12. The only ruddy things cooporating are the Muscovy and some goose eggs.

My new goose eggs are really watery, andnot firm. With my light, I still can't see yolks on goose eggs. I don't know if I'll get a single one out of them, but It's only day 4 though, so we'll see.


Marty I have a very low tek great candler...... a metal coffee can, yes they are hard to find any more but any think about the size you can fit your hand into to change the bulb will work, and a 100 watt equivelent bulb.... the new bulbs stay cool and gives great light with the reflective making it that much better. I can see in brown chicken eggs and thick Embden goose eggs. Even Hubby who has trouble with detail can see!
 
Ok here it goes.
Regular wing
eedaaeb0.jpg

Angel wing (note this duckling had its wing turned out for the photo & does not have AW)
d0268033.jpg

Tucking wing tip
66427561.jpg

Starting the wrap
0471506f.jpg

Around the body
6e8d51e7.jpg

I like to figure 8 around the body and tail leaving the legs free
7485ef2c.jpg


bookmarked page..... your awesome!
wee.gif
 

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