First batch of Welsh Harlequins hatching today !!! PICTURES ADDED !!

[emjay]

28 days ago, I gave my broody hen (chicken hen) 12 duck eggs to sit on.
10 made it to day 28, they started to pip yesterday. I don't know how many have hatched, mama is sitting firmly on her nest. Oh, I pray she's a good mama and not evil to them.
I can't wait to see their little faces. I have never hatched out ducklings before, so super excited to see them.
We here on the 'ranch' love love ducklings.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Congratulations on the hatch looking forward to pictures!

 

[lovin my birds]

Congrats! I love love love little duckies to!

When you get a chance to see them we need pics! Lots and lots of pics!

 

[emjay]

Lots of pics, that I can do !!!

 

[lovin my birds]

And i know you dont want to keep those ugly little duckling... so i will be willing to take them off your hands. Just send them on over. Haha! JK!

 

[Baralak]

Ok... It's been over two hours and NO PICS!

 

[emjay]

the hen won't get off of them !!!! haha. I guess that's a good thing. she's keeping them warm, or perhaps she is wondering what the heck they are and if she sits on them a bit longer their beaks will shrink. and their webbed feet will disappear, haha.

 

[emjay]

I saw two this morning, but, they hid right away under mama hen (chicken) as soon as I came in.

I cannot say CUTE enough !!!! I am trying to have such control to not kick mama hen out and me take over, haha. I have got to say that baby ducklings should be illegal for being so darn cute !!!!!!!!!!!

they are darker then I expected them to be, do the darker welsh babies grow up to be a certain color? I know welsh come in gold and silvers?
My drakes are silver phase and my hens are gold phase.



edited to add. I keep reading about Niacin, I've never raised ducklings before, do I need to add something to the water for the first few days like I do my chicks?
I am feeding them unmedicated chick starter, what else do I need to supplement them with?

 

[emjay]

3 for sure, super cute,

I think they are all boys so far though

 

[emjay]

and yet another question, hopefully someone else interjects, I feel like I'm having a conversation with myself,

how soon can I add a dish of play water, at what age that is? and how deep should it be?