2015 HALLOWEEN Hatch-a-Long, Join us IF YOU DARE!

[Blarneyeggs]

so to keep this chicken related, I will tell you that I set yesterday! Yay!! A little early, I know, but I wasn't sure if my broody would continue to cooperate, so there it is. And then....there's goats.

 

[littlenessie]

I'm actually using my gecko egg incubator. Lol! I have a fancy reptile incubator, it holds the proper humidity and temps for duck eggs The duck eggs are easier, so far, and develop faster than the gecko eggs. As far as a brooder, we have heat lights and bulbs for the bearded dragon, so I was going to use one of his extra lights (making sure it's not too hot). I was planning on building a neat pen with extra supplies from when our house was built and a kiddie pool. There is a bunch of stuff in the crawl space to use. I'm looking at a bunch of pictures and reading articles about brooders online so I can learn as much as I can and build the perfect one. I saw people using shavings and pellets as a "substrate" (that would be the reptile word). I read that newspaper gets slick, but has anyone ever used a litter called yesterday's news? It's recycled newspaper pellets. It works great for cat litter (absorbent and won't smell). Would that be a bad idea for ducklings? It's big enough they won't eat it. I love all the pictures of babies! The goats are adorable! I used to take care of 2 goats that lived on the farm where we kept our horses. The soap is beautiful! I love homemade soap Any other tips for a first time duck person?

 

[junebuggena]

Rubber shelf liner or paper towels work really well for newly hatched chicks. They can get a good grip on it to help prevent splayed legs. Once they learn to eat feed, it's safe to switch to your bedding of choice. Shavings aren't very stable for chicks that are learning to use their legs, and they tend to ingest it at first.

 

[chicapee]

I have eggs coming but won't be here until tuesday. I caved.

 

[Cynthia12]

I have eggs coming but won't be here until tuesday. I caved.

You caved! Sooo hard to do! We know how it is.

 

[RavenBlue]

My buffs are all hatched now so I'm cleaning out the bator to set the quail!

 

[Cynthia12]

Aww, are those little Orpingtons? Very cute.

 

[TJChickens]

I'm actually using my gecko egg incubator. Lol! I have a fancy reptile incubator, it holds the proper humidity and temps for duck eggs

The duck eggs are easier, so far, and develop faster than the gecko eggs. As far as a brooder, we have heat lights and bulbs for the bearded dragon, so I was going to use one of his extra lights (making sure it's not too hot). I was planning on building a neat pen with extra supplies from when our house was built and a kiddie pool. There is a bunch of stuff in the crawl space to use. I'm looking at a bunch of pictures and reading articles about brooders online so I can learn as much as I can and build the perfect one. I saw people using shavings and pellets as a "substrate" (that would be the reptile word). I read that newspaper gets slick, but has anyone ever used a litter called yesterday's news? It's recycled newspaper pellets. It works great for cat litter (absorbent and won't smell). Would that be a bad idea for ducklings? It's big enough they won't eat it. I love all the pictures of babies! The goats are adorable! I used to take care of 2 goats that lived on the farm where we kept our horses. The soap is beautiful! I love homemade soap

Any other tips for a first time duck person?

The trick is keeping things dry. Good luck with that.

Ducklings need deep enough water to submerge their nostrils. They tend to soak everything pretty fast because they need water with every bite of food. So food goes into water, water goes into food and everything in between and around. Newspaper pellets get soggy, then they eat them. To keep bacteria to a minimum, I usually use paper towels under non-slip shelf liner and then in a few days switch to large towels that can be washed, and newspaper or some other absorbent substrate that can be tossed regularly. I also put the water dish inside another dish and put that on top of a low baking pan with a screen on it, giving them a gutter to catch some of the water. Ducks grow really fast, so it won't take long for them to get through the baby stage and go outside or into something more manageable. If I was building a special brooder for them, I would make a screen bottom with a tray underneath and cover the floor where they sleep (under the light) with towels. Just my ideas...I have been known to haul a baby pool into the house....
Ducks are fun and will follow you around. Good luck on your hatch!

 

[RavenBlue]

Aww, are those little Orpingtons? Very cute.

Yup, they are my favorites <3

 

[Pyxis]

I set four eggs today! I'll do three more tomorrow and then three more on the 11th. I better get a Halloween chick! Today was three leghorn eggs and one CCL pullet egg that I don't know is viable. We'll see!