The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: doganjo on September 03, 2010, 05:55:32 pm
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I have 5 duck eggs in the incubator that should have started hatching today, but so far there's no sign of anything. I forgot to stop the cradle three days ago, just remembered yesterday - will that have killed the embryos?
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I'm not sure Annie, as a broody will still move about a little & in turn move the eggs.
I'm sure temp & humidity is more important at that stage.
I'd still give them another couple of days before binning the eggs.
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oh bless will keep everything crossed for you, i hope they hatch
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I'm not sure Annie, as a broody will still move about a little & in turn move the eggs.
I'm sure temp & humidity is more important at that stage.
I'd still give them another couple of days before binning the eggs.
I've had water in much earlier this time because only 4 hatched out of nine last time, and the temperature is kept steady by the machine. So temp and humidity should be OK
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Can you hear any chirping or see the eggs move Annie?
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shud be ok ive done the same thing before and still had a decent hatch fingers crossed for you sweet xx
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Fingers crossed :&> :&> :&> :&> :&>
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any news annie? you just never know......
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I have 5 duck eggs in the incubator that should have started hatching today, but so far there's no sign of anything. I forgot to stop the cradle three days ago, just remembered yesterday - will that have killed the embryos?
it shouldn't kill them... but might make them abit dizzy (!)
they might take a little longer to start hatching, if they try and right themselves.
just keep a close eye for signs, in case they are trying to come out the "wrong end" of the egg...
fingers crossed
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Let us know as I am sure it wont be the first or last time this will be done on here ::) Just had a hatch this morning...6 out of 11 Swedish Blues so far.!
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No sign as yet. Just going to check the dates again. One was put in a day after the others, and none of them had been in the fridge. All had something in them at 14 days.
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Hello No you wont have killed them, if they are going to hatch they still will so please dont worry.
Jonathan ;)
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Hi - don't forget you start the day count from when eggs have reached the correct temperature so generally add on a day to the timings. Plus the larger the egg the longer it will take to hatch, plus very old or very new eggs will take longer also.
I always give my Marans eggs 3 or 4 days grace just to be on the safe side.
I often don't bother to take them out of the rocker until the first one begins to cheep or pip, and I don't think it makes much difference. Early chicks will often hatch in the rocker, climb out and fall to the bottom and still be fine.
Relax and enjoy, and if, heavens forfend, any don't hatch, then just think that they wouldn't have done anyway
The majority of egg deaths are caused in the first few days of incubation anyway - its just the stress of hatching brings these problems to a crisis.
All the best
Sue
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I'll leave them till after Tuesday then - they were about one/two days old when I put them in and the incubator hadn't been on long, so lets say Friday was due date, plus one for heating time, plus one for new eggs - so thy should start Monday at latest shouldn't they? As I said there was life there at about 14 days, a very experienced friend checked them at our CSSA barbecue on 22nd August.
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Annie, any news yet of the ducks.
Helen
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No sign of any life. Think they're dead. But will leave them till Tuesday then bin them and try again.
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You could always try candling one of them or doing a water test...
fill a deep bowl or jug with warm (same temp as incy) water and bob the egg in it. If the duckling is alive you will see movement. I always do this before I throw any away.
And I've known hen eggs hatch 3 days late so with duck eggs taking longer anyway, I'd probably leave them til Friday unless I was absolutely sure they were dead.
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You could always try candling one of them or doing a water test...
fill a deep bowl or jug with warm (same temp as incy) water and bob the egg in it. If the duckling is alive you will see movement. I always do this before I throw any away.
And I've known hen eggs hatch 3 days late so with duck eggs taking longer anyway, I'd probably leave them til Friday unless I was absolutely sure they were dead.
Friday would be a week overdue, but if there's a chance I'll give it a go. Never heard of the water test - will try that now. I'm no use at candling
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Have thrown them out. No sign of life when candled and bobbed in water. Brian who owns the incubator came round today and tested and reset the temperature gauge Going to disinfect it and retry with four more I have here. (dated 4th/5th/6th and 7th)
He also said not to put water in till 2/3 days before hatching. So if setting date is tomorrow, hatching date should be 29th or thereabouts. I'm away from 24th to 27th and don't want my dog sitter to have any hassle - how early might they be? If they hatch on the Monday I'll be back, but wouldn't want them hatching over the weekend unless she can leave them in the incubator till I get back. I could leave them a few more days before setting, as I'm still getting an egg every day from Jack and Jill, so could use the oldest ones and set the newer ones.
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Annie the way I do it is;
Leave the incubator running empty for 24 plus hours with NO water.
Put the eggs in and leave them for 15 days and let the incubator turn them.
I candle between 7 and 10 days but do it frequently once I start spraying with water.
After 15 days take the eggs out and spray them with room temperature water, you can only leave out for up to 15 minutes. Remember to leave the lid on the incubator to keep the temperature.
3 days before due date switch off the auto turner and wait. I still spray the eggs on these days until I see signs of pipping.
I never add any water.
Since following these steps I have had a far healthier rate of hatching. I have though had some start pipping 4 days before due date!! This would not suit if you are away though but you have no way of knowing what will happen.
Good luck.
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The incubator has no controls other than temperature. You can't see through the perspex as it's yellowed, the cradle has to be fully taken out to candle or spray or put water in. I think I'll wait till Friday then put the new eggs in. Thanks for your help James.
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Is this ducks or chickens?
Chicks take 21 days but ducks take 28 days (I think)
Off to check books now...
Yep, 28 days for ducks. :)
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Is this ducks or chickens?
Chicks take 21 days but ducks take 28 days (I think)
Off to check books now...
Yep, 28 days for ducks. :)
Thank you but I already knew that, I have had ducks since 2003 - the 28 days was up last Friday, I left them till Tuesday this week then binned them. I am getting one a day from Jill so will set the incy up again on Friday with four or five.
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Hi Annie,
Sorry didn't mean to question your duck knowledge, I just got confused because you started the thread talking about duck eggs and then here you say
So if setting date is tomorrow, hatching date should be 29th or thereabouts. I'm away from 24th to 27th and don't want my dog sitter to have any hassle - how early might they be? If they hatch on the Monday I'll be back, but wouldn't want them hatching over the weekend unless she can leave them in the incubator till I get back. I could leave them a few more days before setting, as I'm still getting an egg every day from Jack and Jill, so could use the oldest ones and set the newer ones.
Which is only 21 days - I didn't know if Jack and Jill were ducks or hens ;)
Hens, obviously ;)
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Nope, they are ducks - you have spotted the deliberate error ;) Just goes to show I took up the wrong vocation! Should never have been an accountant, I'm not very good with figures ::) ;D ;D ;D Anyway going to set them on Friday - 10th September so hope they will hatch 28 days later on 8th October! What a numpty I am! ::) ::)
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Phew! ;D
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Annie, I found that in the last few days before hatching if i chatted to the eggs they started rocking. When i saw the first pip I kept chatting away every so often and this seem to encourage the baby to keep trying to get out of the shell. Hope all goes well this time round. ;D
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Thanks, Sabrina, I might try that. I'll talk to anything that moves anyway! lol
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Maybe quacking to them would be a good idea ;D :&>
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Maybe quacking to them would be a good idea ;D :&>
That gave me a good giggle - I needed one tonight! ;D