Bad news and a question

[KittyIsQuackers]

Bad news: Max, my Cayuga drake, was killed yesterday morning by a hawk. He was buried next to where Slush and Bean, two ducklings almost fully feathered who were also killed by a hawk. There were buried under an apple tree a dozen steps from the house. Max was about a year and a half old at the time of his death.

Question: I have some Muscovy eggs that went into lockdown on July 27th, were due to hatch on the 30th, and still haven't hatched three days later. At what point should I get worried and pull them out? There's also an egg that has an odd air cell, and by that I mean it’s perfectly visible without candling it. If I have to, I should be able to get it out without opening the lid more than I usually do for adding water to the tray as it’s right next to the side. I have only hatched Buff duck/Harliquin (possibly domestic Mallard, too) eggs. I’ve learned that Muscovite eggs should have more precise humidity. I’ve also learned that they are native to South America and a few were most likely raised by the Indians for a few hundred years before Columbus came. I do colonial reenacting (1776) at Martin’s Station and I’d like to bring some of the hatched Muscovys occasionally with me.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I believe I’d pull a few eggs and candle real quick. Was the 30th 35 days?

 

[KittyIsQuackers]

I believe I’d pull a few eggs and candle real quick. Was the 30th 35 days?

Yes

 

[Miss Lydia]

It can take longer sometimes 37 but candle that will give you an idea whats going on. Ducklings don’t go by the calendar.

 

[DucksOhio]

View attachment 1866163 View attachment 1866164
Bad news: Max, my Cayuga drake, was killed yesterday morning by a hawk. He was buried next to where Slush and Bean, two ducklings almost fully feathered who were also killed by a hawk. There were buried under an apple tree a dozen steps from the house. Max was about a year and a half old at the time of his death.

Question: I have some Muscovy eggs that went into lockdown on July 27th, were due to hatch on the 30th, and still haven't hatched three days later. At what point should I get worried and pull them out? There's also an egg that has an odd air cell, and by that I mean it’s perfectly visible without candling it. If I have to, I should be able to get it out without opening the lid more than I usually do for adding water to the tray as it’s right next to the side. I have only hatched Buff duck/Harliquin (possibly domestic Mallard, too) eggs. I’ve learned that Muscovite eggs should have more precise humidity. I’ve also learned that they are native to South America and a few were most likely raised by the Indians for a few hundred years before Columbus came. I do colonial reenacting (1776) at Martin’s Station and I’d like to bring some of the hatched Muscovys occasionally with me.

So sorry to hear about your loss.

 

[KittyIsQuackers]

^^^Egg with an air cell that’s visible without candling


^^^Two normal eggs

 

[KittyIsQuackers]

More bad news: Firequacker “Quackers” died yesterday. 456 days old, hatched 5th of May 2018. It got too dark for us to look anymore when I saw she was missing, so we started looking in the morning. We found her body early today in the creek, right next to the trail I had just cleared several days before. We think it was a raccoon that woke up around noon yesterday. Today I’m finally able to stay home all day, though my Mom and sister are going into town to get some feed. I’m going to get rid of the path and just clear out the entire place. Good news is that raccoons aren't so protected that if you were getting attacked you aren't even allowed to punch it, unlike Hawks. We set up a trap. Hopefully we catch him. Although the geese have been feeling a little braver lately without Max the jealous drake around and have been hanging out with Abigail and Dragon, the only two members of the flock left, so hopefully they'll protect them if another predator comes around.
On a slightly gruesome note, we cute a palm-sized piece of meat from her as bait for the trap. She’ll be able to catch her killer and protect her flock mates from the grave.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Don’t expect your geese to protect your ducks from a predator with teeth they are mainly all bluff. Very sorry for your losses.

 

[KittyIsQuackers]

 

[KittyIsQuackers]

Don’t expect your geese to protect your ducks from a predator with teeth they are mainly all bluff. Very sorry for your losses.

I know. I’m just hoping they‘ll be sitting next to the Ducks if something comes along, hiss, and scare a cowardly predator that just wanted a simple dinner but doesn't want a fight. And I think the two flocks are merging. Max thought the 45 pound geese were predators, so when they got near he tried to chase them. Very brave of him, a 6 pound drake. Abigail and Dragon simply didn’t care either way, so they’re pretty friendly now, and will graze next to each other, which they wouldn’t before.