Turning eggs

[oregonkat]

My call duck got off her nest this evening for her swim and I quickly peeked at her nest. Just using my cell phone light, I checked a couple eggs that were exposed (didn't mess up her nest). I was surprised to see one egg standing straight up! Air cell on top. She has quite a mound built!
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Beautiful bird!! She sure knows how to keep a spotless house!

 

[rainee63]

In the end, 4 out of 9 hatched. Idk what I did wrong but that's my worst hatch ever. I guess I'll be putting my turner back instead of being greedy :/
7 would have been better than 4.
I'm really disappointed. I was thinking the last time I candled maybe 3 were not good. But having to toss 5 of them hurt! At least the 4 that hatched are beautiful. I'm thinking of drowning my sorrows in more blue australorp eggs.

 

[WVduckchick]

In the end, 4 out of 9 hatched. Idk what I did wrong but that's my worst hatch ever. I guess I'll be putting my turner back instead of being greedy :/
7 would have been better than 4.
I'm really disappointed. I was thinking the last time I candled maybe 3 were not good. But having to toss 5 of them hurt! At least the 4 that hatched are beautiful. I'm thinking of drowning my sorrows in more blue australorp eggs.

Sounds like a great sorrow drowner!
Sorry they didn't all hatch, but I agree they are adorable. Are those all supposed to be lav orps?

 

[oregonkat]

Wow, those chicks are gorgeous!!!! Talk about beautiful colors? Are they lav. orps? If so I hope mine in the bator look like that!!

 

[rainee63]

Yes, they're lavendar orpingtons. I've waited a year to get some! I wanted to get some local but could never find them. So I had some shipped from south AL. Idk if that's why I didn't have a good hatch rate. I was quite religious about turning them. But they are pretty little babies. Thanks!!

 

[rainee63]

Sounds like a great sorrow drowner!
Sorry they didn't all hatch, but I agree they are adorable. Are those all supposed to be lav orps?

I have a friend who breeds blue aussies, so I know his eggs will be fresh and local.

 

[WVduckchick]

I asked because the chicks appear very yellow-ish in the picture. Could be the camera flash. Lav orps should be a bit darker at hatch, and legs be darker too. But after looking again, I bet its just the lighting in the pic.

I have a friend who breeds blue aussies, so I know his eggs will be fresh and local.

Good luck with those!

 

[oregonkat]

I have a friend who breeds blue aussies, so I know his eggs will be fresh and local.

What is a blue aussie?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

During natural incubation a hen will turn (or maybe shuffle is a better verb) her eggs 3 to 5 times per HOUR. I don't ask that you believe me but I do recommend that you do what i did which was to sit quietly by the nest and listen to her moving her eggs using her feet, bill, and body and make a tally mark for every time an egg is re-positioned. It is very difficult to move one egg without moving them all to one degree or another.

 

[rainee63]

What is a blue aussie?

Blue australorp I guess I have a thing for those pretty blue chicks. Lol

What is a blue aussie?

A coloration of australorp. Really great egg layers and almost as sweet as the orpingtons. I hatched some last year and have slowly grown to love them just as much. They're very pretty. Just a little trickier to get the blue color than it is with lavender chicks. I was hoping this baby was a little pullet, but now not so sure :/ most of my aussies have hatched out black.