VEINS!!! I SEE VEINS!!!! Now what!??

[biophiliac]

No, you are my kind of people! Everything for the well-being of creatures in our care!

 

[WVduckchick]

GUESS WHAT!??!??? Even though I looked like a big dummy out in the pen with a blanket draped over my head I just HAD to look one more time after your post and I saw DEFINITE movement in 5 of the 6 eggs!!!!! So cool!! They are more "full" than the pic you shared but I could definitely see little "punches" I even saw a foot!!!! I am still seeing veining though so I know they probably aren't as far as I thought Agee days ago. Now I am SUPER EXCITED!!! OMGOSH!!! But a couple of them looked slightly more full so I'm just hoping they are close enough that she will hatch them all and none of my little kickers die!!

My biggest issue has been that Ethel started this nest around 4/13. But she was not too serious about staying in it. At one point she had 22 eggs!! I could see the black from the outside on several so as that happened we discarded them but around 4/28 she stopped getting off her practically at all and I KNOW for two solid weeks she has barely moved...once MAYBE twice a day. So I'm guessing with my limited knowledge of what I'm looking at and what I find on the internet of how far along they might be.

I can separate Eddie she is in a corner so I can "fence" her in. Once they hatch will Ethel remain sitting on them? I know they can go upmton48 hours with no food. But I would hate for her to lead them off the nest and me not know it.

Can you tell me if/when I should hear noise and what internal pipping looks like? How much can I check them from this point forward? Daily?

That's awesome!! I'm so excited for you!!

Yep, she did the normal thing. With her being the only layer, they have to build the clutch. They will sit a while in the beginning, just to keep those early eggs viable, then they get a little more serious, and a little more... until they fully commit and stop their own laying. So really, tomorrow is 4 weeks since 4/28. So it could be any time now, or several more days. She will shift on eggs that need more warmth, and get the ones that are behind up to speed, so they all hatch within a day or two of each other.

As far as her staying after they hatch, she will stay until the last one hatches. As soon as that last one hatches (last that she thinks will hatch) she will get up and take them to feed and drink. The earlier hatchers will come out from under her some, but will stay close to her.

One day old - she had them at the water



2-3 days old, she had them in the pool (I drained it to an inch or so of water, in the deepest part, its on a bit of a slope)

 

[WVduckchick]

No, you are my kind of people! Everything for the well-being of creatures in our care!

 

[5Chances]

That's awesome!! I'm so excited for you!!

Yep, she did the normal thing. With her being the only layer, they have to build the clutch. They will sit a while in the beginning, just to keep those early eggs viable, then they get a little more serious, and a little more... until they fully commit and stop their own laying. So really, tomorrow is 4 weeks since 4/28. So it could be any time now, or several more days. She will shift on eggs that need more warmth, and get the ones that are behind up to speed, so they all hatch within a day or two of each other.

As far as her staying after they hatch, she will stay until the last one hatches. As soon as that last one hatches (last that she thinks will hatch) she will get up and take them to feed and drink. The earlier hatchers will come out from under her some, but will stay close to her.

One day old - she had them at the water
View attachment 1017058

View attachment 1017059
2-3 days old, she had them in the pool (I drained it to an inch or so of water, in the deepest part, its on a bit of a slope)
View attachment 1017060

Good morning!
So we have had some progress. We are down from 9 eggs to 7. Eggs 1-6 are babies though it seems 2 was a quitter butnive left it until I'm 100% sure. The 7th egg. I don't think was fertilized but again I left because the thought of destroying a little life kills me!! I am fairly certain 1 & 6 are about equal in development it. 1 was very hard to see into but I could see movement. I marked the lower end of the air pocket. 6 also has slanted air sac and I marked it I know it was bigger than the last time I checked it but yesterday was the first day I marked. 3 has GREAT movement! I think it's going to be a "wild child!" It is very full but not quite as solidly full as 1&6. I still see some bringing though much less than when I first candled it. I remember 3 had one very obvious vein and I've noticed it has become less obvious/thick as the duck is getting bigger but I dont know if is the position of the duckling but I see like a little "V" area that is clear (as in just space with some veins) that I don't see so much space in 1 & 6. The rest of the egg is VERY solid full but I'm still concerned 3 isn't as far along as 1&6. 4 seems to be the furtherest behind and the one I'm most worried about. It's moving fine but there's not as much "solid" in the egg as the others. I am so worried it won't catch up and the. When thenothers hatch she will forget about it!! I know there's a baby in there!!!! 5 went bad a couple of days ago and has been removed. My thoughts are hatch order 1,6,3,4 but.... I REALLY wish I could find something to clearly match what I see in my eggs to age them for hatching date better. I am worried they will hatch when I'm not here and something happen to them!!! If I keep 4 in the dead center of her nest would that ensure any more heat got to it to speed up the development?? Or is that just dumb!??

Thank you again for all the help. I just wanted to update you and see if you had any suggestions to better age my eggs. I've been anywhere from 19-25 days and because YouTubers seem to have a range of what they say their candling development is.

 

[biophiliac]

for your hatch. Your thread interests me partly because of your very detailed observations and the opportunity to learn from them. thanks

 

[5Chances]

for your hatch. Your thread interests me partly because of your very detailed observations and the opportunity to learn from them. thanks

Well, you're welcome, I am certainly learning too. As most people here seem to incubate their eggs and Ethel is doing all the work herself!! Lol! I wish I could take pictures but it's just too hard because of her being in the pen and I don't want to upset her at night. I actually have to make her get off her nest during the day to eat and swim and stretch her legs. I'm afraid she would sit there 24/7 if I didn't. I'm sure hoping nature kicks in and she raises these babies! Apparently I already have an "odd duck" in a broody Pekin!! Doesn't surprise me- our place is like the island of misfit animals anyway!!

 

[biophiliac]

Well, you're welcome, I am certainly learning too. As most people here seem to incubate their eggs and Ethel is doing all the work herself!! Lol! I wish I could take pictures but it's just too hard because of her being in the pen and I don't want to upset her at night. I actually have to make her get off her nest during the day to eat and swim and stretch her legs. I'm afraid she would sit there 24/7 if I didn't. I'm sure hoping nature kicks in and she raises these babies! Apparently I already have an "odd duck" in a broody Pekin!! Doesn't surprise me- our place is like the island of misfit animals anyway!!

Any news?