[jameslindsay]

I now have 8 hatched - out of 11. There is another Aylesbury breaking free at the moment and I think the last Aylesbury will not hatch. Kerstin - 4 of your eggs are hatched and I am hopeful that the last one may yet happen. They are all doing well and the 6 that are now in the brooding box are eating, drinking and pooing - all healthy signs.

[carl]

sounds like a job well done. i have had 6 aylebury duck eggs in my incy, largely due to reading your posts on ducks. the first has hatched two days earlier than expected, and i dare not open up yet in fear of losing humidity and heat at such a stage. poor thing looks a bit lonely. It's all been a bit treacherous as I have an electrician re wiring my consumer unit to make the whole house safe, and he has had to cut the power briefly twice.

[jameslindsay]

Good luck Carl. I have an unproven thory which may be total rubbish. The times I have had eggs hatch a few days early the majority of the ducklings have been boys! As I said I have no idea of this is true or coicidence. You will have great fun raising them once they hatch, they grow so fast and eat more and more and more every day!

In this part of Scotland I was advised not to add water at any stage of the incubation and since starting this practice it has worked well. Due to this I can open the  lid when the youngsters are strong enough and transfer them under the heating lamp and get them eating and drinking too. The incubator can get over crowded once they start arriving. The Aylesbury egg that is unhatched I really have no idea why it has "died" as I am certain that it has.

Let me know how you get on.

James

[carl]

thanks james

[jameslindsay]

Can't post any pictures as it is saying it is full contact administrator.

[northfifeduckling]

That's great news again, James! I couldn't find anything relating your theory, might be worth going on the poultrykeepers forum for that one! I just found out that the time window is much greater with ducks than with chicks, maybe that explains the earlies. I hope they are all girls, of course, but it's 50/50 lol.  Ah, yes, it also said that it's not so crucial that the temperature is always up, as it's the core temp of the egg that matters - it maybe only takes a bit longer. Makes sense as the mother also has to eat and drink.
Shame I didn't have time to come over, I'd so love to see them now!

[sandy]

Hope you just got my E Mail, my eyes are runny due to something, I usualy get hay fever but not sure what it is.....now the sunhas finaly come out here so me and my partner are offto the Forest

[jameslindsay]

Hi Sandy - pictures e mailed as promised.

James

[jameslindsay]

Now I have the camera talking to the PC there is no stopping me, enjoy the ducks first swim...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G98LJGOFFq8

[carl]

fantastic james. I now have 2 ducklings, and 2 starting to chip away.

[jameslindsay]

Well done Carl, it is an exciting time. I had 9 out of 11 hatch this time, last few times was 100% success so don't know what went wrong this time. However, the ones I do have are doing great and that's the important thing. What kind of ducks is it you are hatching?

[Halliwell]

HELP: I'm new to this and need some advice. 

I have 12 Aylesbury Duck eggs in the incubator (since 12/04/09) at temp 37.5 and humidity 45%.  The incubator turns them every hour. 

Do I have to stop the eggs turning? When? and do I have to increase the humidity to soften the eggs for hatching?  What should I set this to?  I've candled the eggs every few days and the embryos all seem to be doing well.  I do not want to mess this up.  Any advice (preferrably not conflicting) would be greatly appreciated.

[sandy]

Thanks for the tour, your place is wounderful, and we loved our lunch, still full and that is not like me!!!!! Hope at least one of the Ducks is female but I will be happy with one of each if not or even 2 female other types of Ducks anyway, we will see. I forgot where you were getting your Hens from? I am not looking just yet but will do when we get the Ducks. Thanks again, what a nice journey as well.

[jameslindsay]

You  must switch off the "turning motor" 3 days befor hatching. Not sure on the humidity part as in Scotland I do not add any water. I do spray the eggs on a daily basis though - after the first 15 days in the incubator, only leaving them out for no more than 15 minutes. I have just hatched some Aylesbury through the week so good luck.

James

[jameslindsay]

Thanks for your kind words Sandy, it was good to meet the pair of you. We had a very busy night but as we close at 8.00pm tonight I am on countdown now. I am getting the chickens from "Brewsters" in Abernthey, I can give you directions and a contact number if you want it. I will keep you up to date with the babies progress. The rain also stayed off which was nice.

James