➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[Kiki]

I'm only on page 251 but quoting to answer some questions...then go back and finish reading. Based on the size of the yolk (yellow stuff), I'm thinking the ducklings are about 23 days in development. It looks like W was a day older than S. The breed looks like Pekin egg duck or even Saxony. The body isn't long enough for a Khaki runner.

More info than you requested, but will be helpful when you are ready for it.....
The yolk will be totally absorbed into the abdomen as the hatch begins on day 28...with the opening fully closed when the duckling comes out of the shell. The internal pip is closely followed by an outer pip to gain oxygen. Then the process of breaking out of the shell takes spells of activity and rest while the yolk is giving the duckling the nutrition it needs to work out of the shell.
Once the duckling is dry in the incubator, it can be moved to a brooder and introduced to both feed and water. A 60 watt light bulb suspended over the brooder provides heat. Just like baby chicks, the ducklings need to be able to move toward and away from the heat source as they grow.
I like to use game ration starter for the ducklings and the water container must be deep enough for the duckling to not only drink, but to dip its nares (nostrils) into to keep them clean.
The water container can be set on top of a screen over a shallow basin to catch the splatters and thus keep their bedding dry.
Ducklings should not be introduced to bathing until they have beginning feathers...UNLESS you are prepared to dry the baby with a cotton towel and then use a low heat blow dryer. Baby ducklings can get chilled easily since there is no mother to absorb the moisture from their down after swimming.

I have 28 Cayuga, Pekin and Saxony duck eggs in my incubator.

Thank you Nana!
I really appreciate all this info.
I am bookmarking your post for the future.

What day are your eggs on?

 

[debid]

Mine is DIY if you want to see something cobbled together. Juice bottle, nipple, jack chain, and scrap electric fence wire. Ta-da. We don't do open container here.

 

[Kiki]

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You haven't seen one of these?
https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/...vHSLRN27ExXqbpW1qNMzwYi13RuX7fM8aAp-OEALw_wcB

No, thanks...I haven't even thought about waterers in years.
My current water set up works perfect for me.

But now I am thinking about building something for my balut chicks!

 

[Kiki]

Mine is DIY if you want to see something cobbled together. Juice bottle, nipple, jack chain, and scrap electric fence wire. Ta-da. We don't do open container here.
View attachment 1316581

It looks great!


I built something very similar to this before but for some reason I didn't like them.
I can't think right now as to why I didn't like them.

 

[Kiki]

I much rather DIY stuff.
I prefer to make things.

 

[ronott1]

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You haven't seen one of these?
https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/...vHSLRN27ExXqbpW1qNMzwYi13RuX7fM8aAp-OEALw_wcB

I have one of those along with the brooder plate.

I love them!

 

[Morrigan]

Here is the chick, it has a loud peep... Had to wipe his little right wing it had membrane stuck to it keeping it in an odd shape. Poor baby, much better after the warm wipe down. The humidity is really high is that ok for now as the chick dries?

View attachment 1316516 View attachment 1316515

Absolutely adorable. Do you still have one egg left in the bator?

 

[debid]

I have one of those along with the brooder plate.

I love them!

I have the juice bottle and a mama heating pad hen that I made from a heating pad, old cloth diapers, and a tomato support cage DH squashed with the tractor.

 

[ronott1]

I have the juice bottle and a mama heating pad hen that I made from a heating pad, old cloth diapers, and a tomato support cage DH squashed with the tractor.

Whatever works!

Love the heating plate though. It is very handy.

 

[NanaKat]

Thank you Nana!
I really appreciate all this info.
I am bookmarking your post for the future.

What day are your eggs on?

I set 30 eggs on March 18 so this is day 11.

Thought you might be interested in these ideas:
For a simple brooder or an incubator you can use a light from a bathroom heater/light/vent set up because it has an expandable support for the socket and reflector.

I cut small grooves in the styrafoam container for the arms of the expandable supports and another for the electric plug.

In the lid, I cut two windows and covered the openings with plexiglass set in grooves cut with a razor blade. There are vent holes at each end of the lid to allow air circulation. Hang a thermometer inside or set on a screen across the bottom above a shallow pan for water (for humidity).


For the ducklings, I set their water bowl on top of this....a letter file with holes cut with a drill in the lid. the lid locks on and I empty it every day when I change their water.

And for food, one of those cheap plastic auto feed dispensers for a cat or dog works great .