|
Post by fluffychook on Oct 27, 2008 19:27:56 GMT 8
27 days ago I put six duck eggs under a couple of my silkie hens. One hen was a nest hopper and I found 4 eggs going cold. I put her back on the eggs. My drake started chasing the rooster and so he decided he would go and visit his favourite girl who was brooding 4 duck eggs. Only problem he pooped all over her and promptly the eggs as she moved around. We modified the nesting box and stopped that, much to his frustration. After 2 weeks I was concerned that the eggs where too big for her to turn and I had read this was a problem. So I candled them and found 5 where fertile and put them in the incubator. Then we had the incubator turned off. Thought we would definately lose them, but when candled the next day all 5 where still going strong. On day 25 I took them off the auto turner and checked them before placing on the wire. Four where moving, but I thought no problem, could be just so full in there I can't see the last one move. Been very naughty and candled yesterday. Lots of activity in the air sac and scratching on the inside shell in 4, one is still very silent. Today one has just broken the shell and is now resting. The eggs are still covered with lots of stains from the poop and some of it is still cemented on. So I am hoping for 4 babies shortly. I have not sprayed them at all, but I have had the humidity up around 80% most of the time. I will update the hatch tomorrow....its very exciting
|
|
|
Post by Cluck N Waddle on Oct 27, 2008 19:52:14 GMT 8
Yes how very exciting for you fluffychook, I hope all goes well. Look forward to piccies
|
|
|
Post by Duck Diva on Oct 27, 2008 20:34:25 GMT 8
cant wait to hear your babies have finally come into the world! Thinking of you
|
|
|
Post by horses7 on Oct 28, 2008 4:25:01 GMT 8
They certainly had a varied incubation period, hope all goes well for the hatch today.
|
|
|
Post by fluffychook on Oct 28, 2008 6:45:55 GMT 8
Just checked and we have 4 cracked shells. Not much advancement on last night. Can still hear them though. Hopefully after a nights rest they will get a wiggle on. I find this part of the hatching very tense as I know you can lose them.
|
|
|
Post by Duck Diva on Oct 28, 2008 7:08:33 GMT 8
Good luck today! Ive got my fingers & toes x'd for your babies
|
|
|
Post by fluffychook on Oct 28, 2008 7:33:01 GMT 8
Thanks everyone. We have progress in the last hour. The one that was silent has cracked its shell at the wrong end and egg is rocking. I hope this is not going to be a problem, anyone had this? Another one has cracked the shell in a small line about 1/2 inch long (10mm).
|
|
|
Post by fluffychook on Oct 28, 2008 11:15:46 GMT 8
One has just hatched, it is very dark. I thought it might have been yellow. But then I do have dark campbells...lol I have taken a picture, but I will wait for the rest before posting them.
|
|
|
Post by Cluck N Waddle on Oct 28, 2008 12:44:01 GMT 8
Cant wait to see the piccies
|
|
|
Post by fluffychook on Oct 28, 2008 16:15:23 GMT 8
Update is 3 have hatched. One I found I had to assist. I always wondered when you would know if to assist and I found out you do know. The baby was poking its whole bill out and sounding frustrated and getting very tired. The membrane had changed to a dark colour because it had dried out and no progress had been made. We removed some shell and pulled back some of the now very rubbery membrane to allow the baby to hatch itself which it did very quickly after that. Poor thing is exhausted, immediately went to sleep. There is still very little movement from the original silent egg, but I can hear something going on in the incubator, whether that is the other egg or the silent egg I don't know. More later
|
|
|
Post by Duck Diva on Oct 29, 2008 6:28:01 GMT 8
Hey fluffychook, how are they doing today?
|
|
|
Post by fluffychook on Oct 29, 2008 7:41:39 GMT 8
|
|
|
Post by horses7 on Oct 29, 2008 9:26:23 GMT 8
Congrats Tina, you did well to have 4 hatch. They are gorgeous
|
|
|
Post by Duck Diva on Oct 29, 2008 9:51:11 GMT 8
OMG!They are so cute! Im getting clucky! Glad to hear its gone well. Cheers, Wendy
|
|
|
Post by Cluck N Waddle on Oct 29, 2008 10:48:50 GMT 8
aw, gorgeous fluffychook, what a great outcome considering the incubation troubles. Congrats
|
|