Finally hatched one!

[billw]

Luck so far has been dismal with hatching, but we finally got one.

This is the first of a batch that we took back from our broodies who had too many eggs. They had shifted them out to the sides and left them to get cold, so I'm pretty happy to get anything.

It is a staggered batch with 7 more that look ready to start hatching, 8 that are probably a week or so out, 8 that are probably about two weeks out, and six that are farther out.

Of the eight that looked ready to hatch two days ago, we have this one and another has pipped.

I was surprised to get a yellow duck. The possible mothers are black swedish, metzer golden 300s, and a buff. The possible fathers are a black swedish and a blue swedish. So, I didn't expect a pure yellow duck.

It is playing bumper cars with all the other eggs. All of our neat rows are in chaos. Actually, this works out well since it is a staggered batch and we have stopped opening the cover until the first phase of hatching is done. The duckling is doing the turning for me.

 

[billw]

Now mostly dried out and taking a nap with two peeping eggs. Another has pipped, so maybe our good luck will continue.

 

[70%cocoa]

Gorgeous - congratulations! Looks like a nice, healthly little youngster. I hope you soon have many more! Your little hatchling will encourage the others out with all its movement and peeping.

The fact that you have got a white (yellow) duckling means that two of your adult ducks are carrying the Recessive White gene. One dose of the gene has no effect on colour, but two doses turns the duck totally white (with an orange or pink bill).

Any of your ducks could be the carriers but it is pretty common for Swedish to carry Recessive White. A few of mine do.

 

[Amiga]

Oh, beautiful!!!

 

[billw]

Two more hatched early this morning. Also all white.

Unfortunately, our broodies also hatched out two overnight and we found both dead outside the nests.

Since we're now having some success with the incubator, I wonder if I should take the other eggs from the ducks and hatch them out inside too.

 

[70%cocoa]

You could take the eggs away and put them in the incubator? Is is your ducks' first time hatching eggs? Sometimes they don't know what to do. Is each duck isolated or do they have access to eachother's nests or do other ducks have access? If so it could be that other ducks have been aggressive to the babies.

Really glad that you are having success with the incubator

 

[billw]

We're up to four. I helped two that had membrane glued to their backs and couldn't kick free of their shells. Finally got one that looks like a black swedish.

Five more look like they could pip any time.

 

[Miss Lydia]

We're up to four. I helped two that had membrane glued to their backs and couldn't kick free of their shells. Finally got one that looks like a black swedish.

Five more look like they could pip any time.

So excited for you, they are adorable. Congrats!

 

[billw]

Number five arrived this morning.



Two more look like they are done unzipping, but have yet to push out.

Now, I am starting to wonder how I am going to accommodate 30 ducklings if all these eggs hatch.

Oh well, that would be a nice problem to have, compared to not hatching any.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Number five arrived this morning.



Two more look like they are done unzipping, but have yet to push out.

Now, I am starting to wonder how I am going to accommodate 30 ducklings if all these eggs hatch.

Oh well, that would be a nice problem to have, compared to not hatching any.

What a sweet pic. and i'd say that is a very nice problem,