Falling Down Heights, my daily life

[Canadian Wind]

Two eggs out of nest this morning. Brought them inside, candled, and one was cracked but with a decended air cell. It was also cold. Now in the incubator.

Also rescued another duckling that was out of the nest.

Eggs due for lockdown tomorrow already started hatching. I'm wondering if they may be cross-breeds. One pipped outside the air cell but at the top. Baby is chirping, so allowing it to finish hatching on it's own.

Anyone know how to tell a domestic duck / muscovy mix when hatchelings?

 

[Canadian Wind]

All the eggs and babies have been taken from that female. She only had two eggs left at this point, one pipped, the other crushed and bloody, but with the baby somehow still alive. Both are in the incubator and I'm keeping an eye on the crushed one. The one hatchling with her was also brought in and is currently protesting quite loudly, lol.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Baby is breathing and occasionaly moving and chirping. Keeping my fingers crossed it makes it.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Little one in the crushed shell is now out. Had a bit of a rough time getting the dried membrane off, but managed it after a lot of cotton pads soaked in water and applied to it.

Once the yolk was finally absorbed, I helped him slip out of the remnants of the shell. He's resting right now.

Hopefully tomorrow he'll be on his feet.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Baby made it through the night and has been placed in the brooder with the others. I have to admit, after the condition I found that egg in, I didn't think his chance were very high. Still keeping a close eye on him.

So many babies right now! Especially with all the eggs transfered from that nest. Kinda glad that half of them weren't fertile!

Latest one to hatch is barred. First one this season. Not sure what colour yet, baby is still wet, but is a darker shade.

Still doesn't look like any Lilacs, or Silvers. So far mostly chocolates, with a few blacks. Not even blues. Was sure I'd have *some* blues by now considering the dominant male was blue.

All drakes scovies have been removed from the flock, although one occasionally manages to find a way back in. At which point it is violently expelled again, lol (ie, thrown out). They still haven't learned.

I moved eight older babies outside yesterday. They're in the see-no-touch pen, and hopefully will be integrated with the flock in a week. The previous ones are now with the adults.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Two DIS ducklings. Both were fully formed and ready to hatch, apart from not having yet absorbed their yolk, so they died just prior to hatching. One did have a very soft skull, but the other seemed perfect...

Still 12 eggs in the incubator. May invest in a chest incubator next year.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I think the duckling (scovie) that hatched this morning is a lilac! Hopefully a male, that would take care of both blue and chocolate genes.

 

[Canadian Wind]

The current batch, minus the lilac who was still drying in the incubator:

I'm fascinated by the dark one in the top right. Might be a hybrid with those markings.

Here's a shot of some of them a bit more relaxed (I'd just changed the bedding in the top one and they were seeking comfort in each other after being manhandled, lol!)

A lot of chocolates, but with interesting patterns, particularly the dusky atipico self chocolates (dark browns with the dark feet and bills). The barred one is the all yellow in the centre front. You can see the bill is darker than the usual pink of a regular yellow (white) duckling and can just make out the darker colour at the tip of the tail.

 

[TwoCrows]

The current batch, minus the lilac who was still drying in the incubator:

View attachment 3862850

I'm fascinated by the dark one in the top right. Might be a hybrid with those markings.

Here's a shot of some of them a bit more relaxed (I'd just changed the bedding in the top one and they were seeking comfort in each other after being manhandled, lol!)

View attachment 3862851

A lot of chocolates, but with interesting patterns, particularly the dusky atipico self chocolates (dark browns with the dark feet and bills). The barred one is the all yellow in the centre front. You can see the bill is darker than the usual pink of a regular yellow (white) duckling and can just make out the darker colour at the tip of the tail.

Super adorbs Wind!

 

[Canadian Wind]

And a quick pic of the goslings, who are about 5 1/2 weeks old now: