Advice please - runner duck eggs pipping on day 19

[teresa-78]

Hiya,

Im new to keeping runner ducks, but will try and give advice......

I helped my parents hatch out 3 of 6 eggs we incubated, sadly any that had not hatched out after a pip appeared, never hatched.
We did help one hatch (people say not to) but we couldnt just watch as it probably would have died. It is now doing well, and growing fast.

I am concerned that there is no sign of movement or noise from the egss that have pipped, I think maybe these will not hatch now,
fingers crossed that they do, and fingers crossed for the other eggs under mrs hen

I suggest for supper friendly ducklings that after hatching once they are dry and fluffy, move them inside under a heat lamp, I purchased mine
when they were a day old, raised them under a heat lamp, and they are very loyal to me, and really only me (im there mummy lol).

You may have a supper friendly hen who will bring the ducklings to you, but I have had hens for a few years and they tend to keep their
distance when they have a clutch of chicks, its your preference though really.

My runner ducks are 5 weeks of age now and doing well, here are a few pics to share with you....

One day old....

First trip in Garden.......

In the bath....

And now......

Hope I have managed to help a little, any other worries or concerns im sure there are many other people on here with more experience than me lol,

 

[teresa-78]

Oh it did not but the bath one up?? very strange?? will try again lol

lets see if this works lol

 

[teresa-78]

hmmm will have to upload that one again... technology, I always get it wrong lol

 

[DaiquiriDuck]

Hi there,

Hoping for an update? Im crossing my fingers for you.
If you don't get a hatch I may have some eggs spare? PM me later

Im currently hatching out my third batch of IR by incuator and they always seem to hatch on time

As for getting super friendly ducks the trick is to handle them from day 1, we also have water play time on day 1 too (just make sure its warm and you dry them properly after with a towel!)
Just stick your hand in to get use to you and then after a while carelfully and calmly pick them up and stroke their necks with the back of your finger. Do this everyday (and let them get some time infront of the telly with you) and you will have supper friendly ducks!! Our older 5 were rescued after a few months old and they have never really liked having people near them, they dont trust anyone.

I think trust is the key thing especially as runners are a little nervous anyway!!

Wishing you all the best

 

[ejctm]

Teresa - they are just stunning! thanks for the pics and the advice. I want them to have the benefit of being raised as naturally as possible in the garden (natural is an odd word when mum will be a chicken I know!) so not keen to keep them in the house (plus the smell:/ and I don't have room)

I am at work during the day so I think it best this way, but I am sure you are right about imprinting them on humans early on.
I will just have to do my best to handle them as much as I can. Mum will be fine with me doing this I am sure, as she is super friendly and we raised her from a day old chick so she and her sisters are part of our family flock!

Dacquiri - thanks for that, I will PM you. Probably after next week when I know what is happening with these eggs first. I could always bring mum indoors with her brood and we can all watch TV together, lol! Perhaps Emmerdale Farm

Sorry everyone in the US - UK TV joke - farm-based soap opera.

Mrs lb - I will PM you.

Update for today - still pretty much the same. I have not had the courage to remove any and give up on them yet. I will wait for the due date and see. If anything explodes, then so be it, I will just have to clean it up. Candling is rubbish - all I can see is a black blob on one side, an opaque orange area and then an air sac - it is like trying to see through custard. I can't make out shapes or movement or anything. I think these eggs have really thick shells, and my torch/flashlight is not bright enough.

I did notice though that 2 of the eggs now had dark patches which I can see through the shell without a light. it is like something dark is right up against the shell/membrane and making the shell dark too. One of these is the one I thought was bad, so either there are 2 bad ones, or they are both fine and the babies might be dark feathured or black ones?? I have no idea.

This wait and see lark is very frustrating

 

[ejctm]

Dacquiri - WOW I have just checked out your website. You have an amazing business and so much information there too. I wish I could just spend all my time raising chickens and ducks! You are very lucky.

 

[teresa-78]

Thanks, I just love them

I understand about the time, and the smell and room, they grow so quick, I was lucky I put mine out after 3 weeks during
the day as the weather was lovely, and at 4 weeks they went out perminant due to room, oh and we could not handle the smell, was gut wrenching lol.

I really hope you get some success with the eggs, im planning on doing the same once mine start laying....thats if I have any girls lol. I am sure I have 2 girls
at the moment, and im pleading with more to start quaking...... cant have 4 men to 2 ladies..... so I would have to either sell some males and invest in some ladies...

BUT.... I cant do that.... so its more ladies I think and keep my remaining men

just have to stick my lip out, and do my best sulky face until my partner gives in

 

[animalloverabh]

hope they hatch healthy! if there is no sound i think they havent pipped yet

BTW im in england too! lol

 

[DaiquiriDuck]

Quote:
Why thank you

I am trying to get a real job as I just finished my degree and haven't got enough funds to do chickens full time. Its more of a hobby for me I do the hatching though I think now we are in Wales we will make a real go of it.

Back to the topic:
Emmerdale is always a good option, though my girls prefer the wildlife channel, just try not to watch any Jamie Oliver!!

I kept my girls in a shed in the brooder so smell was never an issue, when it was cold i used to bring them in and sit in front of the fire (and TV) for an hour in the evening (it was too cold for me in the shed as i didn't fit in the brood box!) but as long as you get out there and interact with the ducklings you should be alright. We just got 2 goslings so going through a similar thing of trying to tame waterfowl, they get to sit on my lap and have a groom/stroke every morning and evening to get them used to me, being so little they often just fall asleep! They are easier to tame than chickens just make sure you keep at it

still

for the hatch.

 

[PlumTuckered]

I had Muscovy eggs hatch 6 days early, shocked the daylights out of me.

Michelle