Thanks :-) I just love the way they respond to my voice ... and I have a guard dog too, LOL, this is Gellica the Yorkie who has taken on the role of duck Mommy. She wants in there, because she thinks she has to feed them, She is having flashbacks to when she had puppies (in that same playpen).
Thank you, we may try that. We wet him down with warm, wet, paper towels while trying to remove the membrane last night, because it was virtually impossible without wetting it down, It is possible there's a little more stuck to his back. Thanks for this suggestion. Do you have pictures of...
Thank you! It was so nerve-wracking! It's so hard to make a decision like that, but it looks like we made the right one. Here are the first two to hatch.
I have an update! Well, as the hours ticked by we realized we were going to have to intervene as much as we did not want to. The poor little guy was really stuck, and was ready to come out - no blood, the yolk was all absorbed, and he was drying out fast. The membrane became very dry and...
I will try and hold back! I know it is still breathing, because I can see the beak come out for air every so often. I will only intervene if I think he won't make it, or if he stops moving, but I will wait a little longer and give him some time. So nerve-wracking! Thank you both for your...
Thanks. I think we'll wait until tonight to intervene. When can we move the hatched ones to the brooder - do we have to leave them there until they all hatch, or can we move them quick without harming the unhatched ones?
Here is a picture of the two that have hatched. You can see egg #1 off to the right (the muddy one that is partially zipped). Does he look like he needs help? I'm concerned about this one. It has been 27 hours since the external pip. Also, one of the ones that hatched left a big blob of...
There is a big hole in the first egg that externally pipped You can see a good size zip, but not all the way around. Is it possible he can't break through because the caked on mud is too thick? It is still alive, but it looks like it is drying out, and has slowed down. He was very active...
I've been trying to get a picture! It seems he is shy and ran and hid in the corner where there is no window for me to see him! I hope #2 gives #1 a little nudge :-)
They are Ancona ducks. I have shined the light in there, and it is still moving and chirping. It's just taking him forever to come out. #2 practically flew out, LOL. It really surprised me. Maybe #2 will coach #1 along!
Well, #1 is still trying to hatch (24 hours since first external pip). However, #2 just busted out completely, and his first external pip was only about 3 or 4 hours ago. Should I be concerned about #1? Here is a pic of #1 and #2 (from a few hours ago). #1 is the one almost zipped (to the...