Thread formerly known as Hatch day is today

[piperpayne2287]

There's usually a little gunk in the bottom of mine when they hatch. More if I overdid the humidity it seems. Pretty normal in my experience though. I think it's because the ducks sit so long in there after internal pip before they are fully hatched. 

Thankyou, our house humidity isi pretty high so wasn't too sure whether to follow manual or go with running it dry for incubation, and went with following the manual, the first egg had lots of liquid in the bottom and green yuck the second not so much but still green gunk. First time hatching and looks like my hydrometer broke during lockdown. But at least I can get a decent one now l!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

incubator manuals are usually written with chicken eggs in mind. Waterfowl need to loose significant water weight in order to have their air cells develop well for hatching. A drier incubation usually works best. We try and stay 30% and under for incubation but even 40% of less is good for most. At lockdown bring it up to 70% or higher.

 

[JulieNKC]

I just went down to top off food for the night, and all my chickens were asleep in the coop. My leghorn has never ever slept in there by choice. The others, sometimes, but they were usually on the roof with her. And everyone was all snuggled together on the roost.

It's even fairly nice outside. I'm thrilled, but wondering what on earth made them decide to sleep there tonight finally?

 

[Marty1876]

Aw geez, I hope nothing scared them!

How are you?

 

[JulieNKC]

They are safer on top of the coop where they normally sleep (it's inside an enclosed/covered pen). Just colder, especially since it's metal. I don't mind in summer, but it's getting cold so I've been hoping they'd decide to go in on their own. Last winter was so nice I didn't mind that they stayed out there, lol.
I've been good. Taking a little break from hatching, although I'll be firing the incubator back up soon.

How about you? Any new pics? I want to see those mottled javas.

 

[Marty1876]

I'm waiting to take pics when their new recycled pen is done. They are a nice group. 5 hens and 3 roos (plus up and coming chicks I bought from a breeder awhile back). One roos is especially nice, and most of the girls are pretty above average. All have right color feed, good combs, nice square shapes. (he he, my APA book came in) It was fun to discover for sure what I had. One of those roos is gonna be a taste test though, he's not very upright, bad comb, a woosie. Don't need his progeny. Look for pics this weekend.

I've got a friend whos DH can get me some empty square plastic watertanks (there is a pic of one as a building in my coop vs tractor thread in my signature as a link) I think I'll press those into use come late January/early Feb for the geese. I really can't imagine them laying before mid March, that's when my moms start fighting. When do your geese get twitterpaited? (remember bambi? love?)

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

You are lucky Marty, those tanks sell at 125 and 250 each here

Barb on here (RURU) could give you a good idea on your sebbies as she is in MO and had them there for years now.

 

[JulieNKC]

This is my first year with geese, and I just have my 2 girls.

Paulla and Jerry have a goose that was laying already though, and I think they said theirs started january/feb?

I'm looking forward to the pics. I've been studying the standards for mine, but some things I think I need to see actual live birds that fit standard to judge better, lol. I'm not sure if my interpretation of it is correct. I wish they had books for each breed. With more pics from different angles, tips on conditioning and penning, etc.

 

[psue]

Marty This is pictures of our duck/goose houses. We have 3 of these Buff Ducks, Scovies and the Roman goose and her mate. The bigger geese have different houses however they have all "visited" the insides of these as we were putting them in place.

 

[Goin Quackrrs]

Marty This is pictures of our duck/goose houses. We have 3 of these Buff Ducks, Scovies and the Roman goose and her mate. The bigger geese have different houses however they have all "visited" the insides of these as we were putting them in place.

Would you be okay with it if I stole your photos and sent them off to a coworker? He didn't believe you could make a duck house out of one of these...