Too Early for Feb Hatch-A-Long Thread??

[LilyD]

My muscovy still doesn't make any noise, I think they hiss when they get mad but I've never heard it. My Pekins are so loud. They're always yelling at me about something The drake Pekin has a very muted quack, he sounds like he lost his voice. Ducks are one of my favorites.

The female scovies that I had would trill it sounded like a whirring whistling sound. The boys would only hiss but were so much like puppy dogs I adored them. I was even known to take a nap in the yard with my boys lol.

 

[LilyD]

Same here. Everyone wants to buy chicks around February to April. We are going to do our Cockerels for meat this year.

Up here it seems no one wants roosters so the ones I don't keep for breeding have to go in the cook pot. I usually put between 50 and 60 roosters in the freezer. Sometimes older hens too.

 

[FortCluck]

The female scovies that I had would trill it sounded like a whirring whistling sound. The boys would only hiss but were so much like puppy dogs I adored them. I was even known to take a nap in the yard with my boys lol.

My female makes no noise at all. She just stares at me and follows me around. She loves to fly and do her own thing. I hope to get more like her some day so she isn't the only one. The Pekins drive her nuts because they're so messy. Muscovy are such a clean duck.

 

[LilyD]

My female makes no noise at all. She just stares at me and follows me around. She loves to fly and do her own thing. I hope to get more like her some day so she isn't the only one. The Pekins drive her nuts because they're so messy. Muscovy are such a clean duck.

When the females we had made noise it was very quiet. If you weren't paying attention you would miss it. They made the most noise when they were sitting on eggs or taking care of babies.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Oh no I'm so sorry about your little ones.

Thanks. I feel bad about the one that suffocated. It's hard to know when to help and when not to help. I killed one once helping and killed this one not helping. Here's a great picture of helping that went well. He spent two days like this.

 

[abpatchy]

So excited!! Mine went into lockdown this morning! Seeing all those fluffies makes me so much more excited!! My very first hatch, very first lockdown.
Here are pictures of the two trays where I can get good pictures of. OUt of the 77 that went into the incubator... I have 44 (maybe 45... I didn't count) left

My husband built me some cages so they are contained by breeding group etc

I need to ask you more experienced people about one egg. The air bubble is on the side. Like not just lop sided but really to the side. Does this chick stand a chance? Is there anything I can do to help?

 

[LynnaePB]

All the babies are out now (the last three didn't keep my waiting too long, they were out by 11:30 PM on the 11th). It's been a busy day so I didn't get a chance to catch up and post until now.

Here are all 9 of the little silkie chicks. Sorry about the bad lighting in the picture, I'd use the flash but I didn't want to scare the babies.

Most were good about hatching on their own this time so I'm happy about that.

My 8 shipped silkie eggs that are due on the 22nd are still doing good (I took the 1 quitter and 7 clears out today).

Out of the 24 eggs I set from my flock on the 5th it looks like only 13 are developing and alive still. I took the rest out and opened them up today. I'm pretty sure 7 weren't fertile at all and 3 were fertile but quit very early as well as 1 day 2-3 quitter. All the quitters were from the same hen, only one of her eggs is still hanging in there. I guess her eggs didn't do well with the less than great storage temperature and length. All 8 eggs from the little hen in my avatar developed and are doing good so far, I guess her embryos must just be hardier! The other 4 eggs from another hen were all pretty fresh so I'm not surprised those are all developing well. It's really interesting noting how each individual hens eggs do.

Thanks. I feel bad about the one that suffocated. It's hard to know when to help and when not to help. I killed one once helping and killed this one not helping. Here's a great picture of helping that went well. He spent two days like this.View attachment 2025182

I agree, it is really tough to know when help is necessary sometimes even when you've been doing it for awhile! Just in this last hatch I had two malpositioned babies that I wish I'd helped sooner (doubtful they would have made it but they would have had a better chance). When I was newer to incubating I lost a few little ones that internally pipped and couldn't externally pip myself and can't help but still feel bad about it. As I've gained more experience I've become comfortable with much more hands on hatching but there are definitely pros and cons and sometimes it's still difficult to know what is the best call.

I'm glad you've had good experiences with helping besides the bad, that little one in your picture is lucky you were willing to intervene!

 

[Pyxis]

I need to ask you more experienced people about one egg. The air bubble is on the side. Like not just lop sided but really to the side. Does this chick stand a chance? Is there anything I can do to help?

I've had that before. I just made sure to lay the egg down with the air cell on the top for lockdown. It pipped into it fine and everything went normally.

 

[LynnaePB]

So excited!! Mine went into lockdown this morning! Seeing all those fluffies makes me so much more excited!! My very first hatch, very first lockdown.
Here are pictures of the two trays where I can get good pictures of. OUt of the 77 that went into the incubator... I have 44 (maybe 45... I didn't count) left
View attachment 2025190View attachment 2025191

My husband built me some cages so they are contained by breeding group etc

I need to ask you more experienced people about one egg. The air bubble is on the side. Like not just lop sided but really to the side. Does this chick stand a chance? Is there anything I can do to help?

So exciting, good luck with your first hatch! I hope your little sideways air cell baby makes it out just fine for you. I'm routing for the little one!

 

[abpatchy]

I've had that before. I just made sure to lay the egg down with the air cell on the top for lockdown. It pipped into it fine and everything went normally.

Thanks! I'm hoping for the best!!