Thread formerly known as Hatch day is today

[country_girl011]

I am stunned at I type this. I mentioned Egg #1 had zipped about 2/3 last night, then just stopped. I thought it was taking a nap and fully expected to see a baby when I got up this morning. But no. It got stuck with its beak sticking out of shell (he was zipping along bottom at that point so I could not see) and died. Had only 1" left to zip too. I mentioned eggs #2 & 4 were trying really hard with egg #1 to external pip, but no movement this morning. It looks like they could not get through the shell to external pip. Their beak are right at the pipping location. I checked egg #3 and confirmed it was backwards. Egg #6 was backwards too. Not sure about the other 3. Just pipped all the eggs and threw them back into bator. But I think they are all dead.

im soo sorry iain

 

[Marty1876]

CG - I am sorry that your baby had to have a rough start, and a tragic end.

I'm glad its overwith, so that you don't have to feel bad anymore.

On a differnt note, these two cuties ar adorable! You should get a good pic of them to offer for the calander contest photos going on now! (I can almost see them in that bowl, w/label out, surronded by strawberries! LOL) Just kidding about the berries, but they are mighty cute. Do you have anything blooming at your house, you can get a pic of them next too?

this is how they sleep at night and throughout the day .

Wow, I was totally NOT expecting this. Oh Iain, what an aweful wake up for you.

My eggs still aren't doing anything, but one looked like it was pipping internally last night. If bad things come in threes, my duckies are screwed.

I am stunned at I type this. I mentioned Egg #1 had zipped about 2/3 last night, then just stopped. I thought it was taking a nap and fully expected to see a baby when I got up this morning. But no. It got stuck with its beak sticking out of shell (he was zipping along bottom at that point so I could not see) and died. Had only 1" left to zip too. I mentioned eggs #2 & 4 were trying really hard with egg #1 to external pip, but no movement this morning. It looks like they could not get through the shell to external pip. Their beak are right at the pipping location. I checked egg #3 and confirmed it was backwards. Egg #6 was backwards too. Not sure about the other 3. Just pipped all the eggs and threw them back into bator. But I think they are all dead.

 

[Iain Utah]

I tell ya.... I'm shocked myself! I would be seriously bummed... BUT... I have a dozen very strong anconas on day 23 right now. And 4 of them look to internally pip tomorrow. I guess it will give me time to clean the other bator after the hatch of death before moving new eggs over on Sunday. And pidgey's egg is still alive, but still have my serious doubts.

Plus, I have a bunch of goosies doing great! However, I will be devastated if my toulouse babies on day 22 do not hatch!!

 

[Marty1876]

The ducklings and goslings made it home all by themselves today. My turkey didn't. She has gone broody I guess, I found her in the back corner of an old shed where she's been laying her eggs. Guess now I need to figure out how to break a turkey broody, let her sit on her eggs until she figures out they are duds, or give her a few out of the incubator. I want to give her babies and let her hatch some, but turkeys don't make the most trustworthy mothers and poults are so sweet I'm really kind of looking forward to brooding these guys. Want to talk about babies that act like puppies, the poults I've had put even goslings to shame in that department.

Aw, poor girl. If you can spare her a few eggs, why not let her sit them or finish them out? Can you just get some eggs from someone else, not to important, and let her have a go at it for you?

Aww. All your babies are so adorable! I don't know anything about Breda and Crelo chickens. Do you have a pic of what they look like as adults?

My two week old pekins are almost 3 times as big as my week and a half old runners!

My Peking babies are consisitantly twice the size of my Khaki babies. But, it doesn't seem to give them a complex. In fact, I'd say the more friendly Pekings (but not too friendly) maybe keep the totally freakish by nature Khakis a bit calmer.

 

[country_girl011]

CG - I am sorry that your baby had to have a rough start, and a tragic end.

I'm glad its overwith, so that you don't have to feel bad anymore.

On a differnt note, these two cuties ar adorable! You should get a good pic of them to offer for the calander contest photos going on now! (I can almost see them in that bowl, w/label out, surronded by strawberries! LOL) Just kidding about the berries, but they are mighty cute. Do you have anything blooming at your house, you can get a pic of them next too?



i dont think i have anything

Wow, I was totally NOT expecting this. Oh Iain, what an aweful wake up for you.

My eggs still aren't doing anything, but one looked like it was pipping internally last night. If bad things come in threes, my duckies are screwed.

i will maybe try to stage something .
they dont quite cooperate.
if i try to adjust them a little they bail out of the cup.
i will maybe get some plastic eggs out and easter grass.
and an easter basket..
ohhh this is gona be cute!!!!

 

[Marty1876]

I tell ya.... I'm shocked myself! I would be seriously bummed... BUT... I have a dozen very strong anconas on day 23 right now. And 4 of them look to internally pip tomorrow. I guess it will give me time to clean the other bator after the hatch of death before moving new eggs over on Sunday. And pidgey's egg is still alive, but still have my serious doubts.

Plus, I have a bunch of goosies doing great! However, I will be devastated if my toulouse babies on day 22 do not hatch!!

Come on toulouse babies!

I understand how you feel, I'll be most disappointed if I can't at least get 2 or 3 out of the last 6 eggs that have made it to lockdown. I mean, the whole point of shipped eggs is to at least get a pair or trio for breeding stock. I hope I get some. My humidity went down to about 40% over night, but is back up to 70% now. Nothing else I can do, but wait and choose to either candle them tonight, and see whats up, or leave them to the good graces of the universe.

 

[Iain Utah]

Exactly, Marty. On the positive side, I already have 4 beautiful babies from aurora's stock and the ones scheduled to hatch next week are what I planned to use to mate up with those babies. I only want 3-4 more anconas, so gosh darn it...I hope this doesn't turn into the same challenge I have been having trying to hatch mates for my cayugas.

By the way... the lady that I got the cayugas eggs from recently also has large pekin eggs.

 

[Marty1876]

Well, with any luck at all I'll get some from these eggs. I guess its because they are one generation away from imported English jumbo ducks that had me real excited about them. They are from good show stock (the ebay seller sent many pics and listed bloodlines when shipped eggs - most impressive) and I really want them to work out. (Got a kid in 4-H how is trying to show more than just white and brown ducks this year - thus we've got a 2 loaded bators)

I'd better go pop more popcorn, and just wait for the show. (Hope there is one)

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

Culling is apart of breeding and incubating. Here are a few hopefully helpful ways.
Newly hatched and small chicks/ducks:
Sharp kitchen sheers are quick & humane
A small bowl with a lid add vinegar and baking soda close lid
Older birds there is really only one humane way that's an ax or another very heavy and sharp instrument to remove the head.
Remember when culling for any reason to keep it as quick and human as possible to lesson the trauma on the animal as well as you.

So glad I havn't had to do this yet. I would be okay with an adult. But the little babies.. not sure I could do it.

That actually reminds me of an appalling/funny story. My BIL had some chickens, he's a city boy but his wife had them growing up. Anyway, she was out of town and a coon/fox gets to the chickens. So 3 are dead and one is scraped up pretty good. That same day my husband went over to pick up those chickens to bring to me cuz they were moving to Arkansas and couldn't take their coop. (I have their coop too
So my BIL decides he's going to cull the injured chicken by using the twisting head method, only he doesn't know what he's doing and the chicken gets away so now they can't find it.
Long story short- that chicken is now in my backyard. Her name is Chicken Jane. We found her 3 days later when she showed back up at their house a day before they moved to Arkansas.

And my BIL is now known as "the chicken killer". And his wife has no idea that drama took place.

My WH eggs are going into lockdown in 3 days, and theirs still a bit of room left, more then usual... Is this normal? I will try to compare it to the metzer farms chart....
I also have 11 rouen eggs, and 3 WH eggs in. out of the 6 WH, only 3 grew.... And I think their pure! If their daddy was the rouen, they would have all been fertile, he doesnt mess around with the ladies

And! Someone emailed me from craigslist, and ordered 3 ducklings

Can someone catch me up?

That's awesome!

Fantastic news Marty!
Egg #1 decided to zip about 2/3 then take a rest. No external pips from any others yet. I am starting to get a little worried about egg #2, but it is so dry here now that my bator is locked down until egg #1 hatches or my pidgey egg internally pips.
In my goose bator, I am super excited to report 3 beautiful spiders in my buff dewlaps!! I must have hot spots in my bat ors when filled to max, because I have 4 day 22 anconas with major shadowing in back of air cell. They look further along than my day 26 pidgey egg. Hope I get a few healthy babies to hatch!

Yay!

LMFAO

well it is with relief that i tell you guys that the handiquack duckling passed away sometime in the night .
i took him and his bowl out of the brooder when i got up and the other 2 went searching for their bowl.
they liked to sleep in it with him.


and the geese are quickly outgrowing being brooded on the porch.
another solution will have to be found this week,

I'm so glad. I got on here this morning to check. I was hoping this is how he would go.

I am stunned at I type this. I mentioned Egg #1 had zipped about 2/3 last night, then just stopped. I thought it was taking a nap and fully expected to see a baby when I got up this morning. But no. It got stuck with its beak sticking out of shell (he was zipping along bottom at that point so I could not see) and died. Had only 1" left to zip too. I mentioned eggs #2 & 4 were trying really hard with egg #1 to external pip, but no movement this morning. It looks like they could not get through the shell to external pip. Their beak are right at the pipping location. I checked egg #3 and confirmed it was backwards. Egg #6 was backwards too. Not sure about the other 3. Just pipped all the eggs and threw them back into bator. But I think they are all dead.

Oh no!! What?!

I tell ya.... I'm shocked myself! I would be seriously bummed... BUT... I have a dozen very strong anconas on day 23 right now. And 4 of them look to internally pip tomorrow. I guess it will give me time to clean the other bator after the hatch of death before moving new eggs over on Sunday. And pidgey's egg is still alive, but still have my serious doubts.

Plus, I have a bunch of goosies doing great! However, I will be devastated if my toulouse babies on day 22 do not hatch!!

I'm glad for the Anconas.

 

[country_girl011]

qj i think the rugrats layed with him lastnight and he was too weake to keep out from under them like he usualy does.

it was funny i took the bowl out to go dispose him him and they went looking for their bowl cryign for it. so when i put it back in they both quickly jumped back in it.