Who wants to incubate some duck eggs?

[2txmedics]

this is the one I had:

and on the humidity...when it was sitting on the reading at 54%...it really was 62%...I drowned mine. Poor babies I had 17 eggs out of 32 that didnt make it.

My temp was holding...i have an LG....

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Maybe that's why little girls have started hanging out in the four foot high chicken nest box. LOL. Don't ask me how they get in there considering they refuse to try to fly, but they do.

The drakes have decided that they wanna try making some duck/chicken and duck/guinea babies too!!

I tried to explain that it doesn't work that way but they just don't listen. Just like any teenager, they think they know it all.

Teen hormones..

 

[redhen]

Quote:
thats the thing..having another one to compare it too. if not, its really hard!

Once you get 'an ear for it', you can sex them this way with probably at least 90% certainty, but you need to be very familiar with the sounds of baby ducks! I'm sure next spring I'll feel like a newb again!

Until you hear that squeak...

 

[vkp23]

Quote:
I'm still very new at the incubating thing too. I think its one of those things that the more you do it the more you learn and the better you get at it. I keep trying to tell DH that. He tells me not to buy anymore eggs till I learn how to do it. But I've done my home work and looked all the stuff up. The only way for me to learn anymore is to try it myself. Tweak it with the things I've learned from books and other hatchers. It will just take time and learning.

 

[2txmedics]

I read this VERY VERY LONG POST...and this helped me alot to understand what I needed to do....then I calibrated my temp/humidity meter...and now Im on day 2 of being set at what I need!!!

will be putting eggs hopefully in soon....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html


makes alot of sense...as far as evaportation and drying up, and drowing a chick if not done right...etc...
btw: if anyone of you...have Yahoo Messenger...I do under my email addy I use for personal home use not connected to byc....would be easier to chat!!!!

 

[redhen]

Anyone else want to get in???

 

[GAChknGirl]

I got a picture i need to put up its quite funny!!!!

 

[glenolam]

There are some great pictures here! I'd love to hatch out some ducklings as well!

So far we have mallards - 2 drakes (one hatched out May 6th) and 6 hens, and one brown hen - maybe a runner? I'm not too sure!

We, too, have a small farm going - 25 chickens of all breeds (2 roosters, 22 hens and 1 chick!), 12 guinea keets hatched this year, 3 goats (1 doe, her wethered son, and 1 doeling), 3 white faced hereford cows, 2 dogs, 2 cats and 2 parakeets!!

Last year I hatched 20 ducklings in the incubator and this year we're letting nature try, so we've only gotten about 8 ducklings total. But I'm always up for more!

You'll have to excuse me, though, I'm not really computer savvy and can't figure out how to post my pictures! Any help?!?

 

[BeccaOH]

Quote:
its when the humidity isnt high enough and the sack/membrane (or whatever its called)..dries up and shrinks onto the baby really tight.. the babies usually dont make it..

Oh, that's what happened to the last duckling I hatched just last night. I ended up pulling membrane away from it's face and foot. It finally made it out, but the shell with membrane stuck to its back. I poured some warm water on it to loosen it. I had to go to work and hope it is doing okay.

I really thought my humidity was up way high. It read 90% at one time after 2 others hatched and the windows were covered condensation. I need to find out how to test my electronic reader.

Out of 7 good eggs, I've gotten 4 ducklings.

Here are my guys I got in April. They are tight flock of 8. Not sure how to add new duckings to the group.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
its when the humidity isnt high enough and the sack/membrane (or whatever its called)..dries up and shrinks onto the baby really tight.. the babies usually dont make it..

Oh, that's what happened to the last duckling I hatched just last night. I ended up pulling membrane away from it's face and foot. It finally made it out, but the shell with membrane stuck to its back. I poured some warm water on it to loosen it. I had to go to work and hope it is doing okay.

I really thought my humidity was up way high. It read 90% at one time after 2 others hatched and the windows were covered condensation. I need to find out how to test my electronic reader.

Out of 7 good eggs, I've gotten 4 ducklings.

Here are my guys I got in April. They are tight flock of 8. Not sure how to add new duckings to the group.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/16616_img_1405.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/16616_img_1490_b.jpg

Hi Becca! I was worried about introducing new ducks also. When the babies got old enough i set them up in a pen by the older ducks so they could see each other but not get to each other..finally after a few weeks, i just let them all in the yard together and they get along fine. They'll usually work out a pecking order. just like chickens. that what it seems like to me anyways..

Cute pics! What kind of ducks are they?