Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[Fancychooklady]

Gratz to everyone on their hatches and fingers crossed for those waiting for ones to still hatch.
We decided to venture down into nsw for the long weekend as hubbys sister has a place down there inland from byron bay. My neighbour 2 doors up rang me sunday morning to ask where my ducks were as she was feeding the animals for me.
Got home to find all my ducks gone.. Only one small pile of feathers and 7 chickens gone too.(Most of my pekins and a frizzle roo and a couple of others.) I have a feeling the neighbour above may have let their hunting dogs out at night but i have no proof of that . So bit sad for me as this is the first time in 14 years that i have had no ducks.

Oh no , how devastating. Let's just hope that the ducks have wondered away and make their way home.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Sounds like a plan, doesn't sound like its good to let it stay in with the bacteria after what Fancy said. Soooo pleased one hatched! I'm sure you will get more tomorrow. My one I'm assisting is peeping Soooo loudly! The one in the brooder can hear the one in the incubator they are peeping from another room they are talking to one another. I will be up all night watching this one's membranes. One vein still has blood the rest have all receeded now. It is so nerve wracking. I need emotional support I am so grateful to have you guys

It's always hard to know whether or not you have made the right decision, hatching eggs is never as easy as you think it might be. Yesterday one of my silkie hens just packed it in and walked off her eggs. By the time I found them they were dead in the shells. I'd say they were 24 hours from hatching. So even Mother Nature has her nightmare hatches.
All you can do is research and learn .
On a brighter note my eggs are enroute from Adelaide and a lovely customer of mine , who is a hatching guru has agreed to take 2 x dozen and hatch them for me in exchange for some coronation eggs. I'm also picking up some silver laced Wyandotte eggs on the weekend. Not like I need more birds, just thought I'd introduce some fresh blood to my lines.

 

[K.Riggs]

My little guy has me sick with worry. I had to get him out the membrane was shrink wrapped over his eye and was drying his eye so he couldn't blink. I had left him four hrs until no blood vessles visible. He came out with no blood or vessles but he had his cord and a little yolk left.. He is in the brooder in a damp paper towel nest to wait for him to absorb it. He is so active he does not want to be there at all. I still don't know why those three pipped days early but he was clearly too young to be trying to hatch. He might die, I know that. I have been up with him all night and haven't slept. I will keep him moist and just give him the day to see if he absorb the yolk then I guess I will apply iodine to the belly button and dress it. I'm going grey from this. Day 27 today and no more have pipped yet.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I've had chicks hatch with yolk not absorbed. I popped them in an egg cup and put them under the heat lamp until absorption was complete. Once the membrane is removed drying out is important so don't keep him moist.

 

[K.Riggs]

I've had chicks hatch with yolk not absorbed. I popped them in an egg cup and put them under the heat lamp until absorption was complete. Once the membrane is removed drying out is important so don't keep him moist.
View attachment 1151730

I'm not keeping him moist just his yolk. Should I put him on dry cloth? I had him dry in a cup but the shell dried to his wing and he was really distressed by it so I had to moisten it and remove his shell. So the yolk is still intact not broken and he is laying curled up on dry paper towl with a little bit of damp paper towel just over the yolk. He is pretty dry and warm in the heat pad cave and I take him out every 30 min to check he isn't too hot. His sibling is right under there with him and doesn't seem too hot.

 

[satay]

Oh no , how devastating. Let's just hope that the ducks have wondered away and make their way home.

Thanks mate. I don't think so though as i have had a look around the property's below and nothing. Been 4 days now.

 

[satay]

I've had chicks hatch with yolk not absorbed. I popped them in an egg cup and put them under the heat lamp until absorption was complete. Once the membrane is removed drying out is important so don't keep him moist.
View attachment 1151730

I remember that and how well you did to keep it alive.

 

[LuckysMum]

My little duck is out and the second has started unzipping.

 

[satay]

My little duck is out and the second has started unzipping. View attachment 1151854

Omg cuteness overload. Gratz

 

[LuckysMum]

Satay I so sorry to hear you lost so many feathered friends. That's devastating. Good luck with the new ones. K Riggs good luck it sounds like you are really trying. I posted my photo then all the other posts came through. Fancy sounds like its all happening your way. I hope your feeling better now it sounds like you'll be busy.