Dutch Hookbill Hatch!

[Pyxis]

Look at how cute we are:

 

[Ducksmom]

Congratulations on your hatch!!! I also lost some the same way and assisted 3 that survived after staying 48 hours extra in the incubator, but got to hatch 12. I hope to see some curved bills soon. Mine at one week now:

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

Congratulations on your hatch!!! I also lost some the same way and assisted 3 that survived after staying 48 hours extra in the incubator, but got to hatch 12. I hope to see some curved bills soon. Mine at one week now:

The one by the feeder looks to have a bit of curvature!

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

Do the curved bills develop or are they what they are at hatch?

 

[Ducksmom]

They hatched with straight bills that curve when growing. Not all Hookbill have a pronounced curved, but you can distinguish them from other breeds by the shape of the head/bill that will develop. I’m myself very new to them and I relay on the honesty of the breeder -seller that should have tried to keep this breed not mixed and of course, not selling eggs as Hookbill if they are not. Whatever quality I hatched, I will be breed them with the drake and hen that I should get this year from Holderread.

 

[Pyxis]

Do the curved bills develop or are they what they are at hatch?

They start off looking normal and then curve. There are degrees of curving, and Holderread recommends not breeding ducks with extreme curves together, as he found that in such breedings fertility was only about 50%.

 

[Knighstar679]

Congratulations on your hatch! It’s always great to see a rare breed had new members added to their species.

 

[Pyxis]

Pretty sure I have some bills starting to curve Hopefully I can get some nice pictures tomorrow.

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

How are they doing?

 

[Pyxis]

How are they doing?

Doing good! Mad at me because I cleaned their brooder today, lol.