Help with duck who was attacked

[Miss Lydia]

I’ve mentioned before that I have an incubator with 9 surviving Rouen and Runner duck eggs, they are supposed to hatch on Wednesday but they are two that are piping now. Is there anything that I should be doing like spraying them with worm water, or just leave them alone? And how long after they hatch do take them out, ive read in books to let them dry them take them and put them in a brooder. I am going to get my brooder ready now just in case they hatch early, but any advise would be great .

I haven't used an incubator but I do know that opening one up causes the humidity to fall and can cause shrink wrapping to happen so I would leave the bator closed. I'm not sure what your humidity should be though hopefully someone who has hatched can help you there, but be prepared to wait it can take up to 3 days from pip to zip so don't panic. Once they start hatching I would let them dry before moving them, some do move them earlier so again hopefully someone with bator experience will advise Get everything ready and then hopefully all you'll need to do is sit back and watch and wait.

 

[cschoer]

I had 4 pekin ducks. Just lovely little critters. In the last three nights, I have lost 2 and now this morning another is bloody. He is still alive but the other two had been attacked at the neck and just cleaned down to the bone (neck only). There doesn't appear to be any other harm. What could it be? I do leave them out at night and I know they are vunerable but they much prefer it. I haven't had any trouble like this before. I am going to be calling the Fish and Game and see if they have any ideas. I feel terrible and will attempt to get them into a shed tonight. Any ideas?

 

[jdywntr]

I had 4 pekin ducks. Just lovely little critters. In the last three nights, I have lost 2 and now this morning another is bloody. He is still alive but the other two had been attacked at the neck and just cleaned down to the bone (neck only). There doesn't appear to be any other harm. What could it be? I do leave them out at night and I know they are vunerable but they much prefer it. I haven't had any trouble like this before. I am going to be calling the Fish and Game and see if they have any ideas. I feel terrible and will attempt to get them into a shed tonight. Any ideas?

This is exactly why most people on BYC recommend locking them up at night. There are so many posts about people that thought they'd be okay and people that hadn't had a predator problem before for years.

Sorry that you've lost some. It sounds like it could be a raccoon or an owl. Being completely out in the open it is hard to say for sure. Typically, a raccoon will take the head, owls the neck. You will need to treat the injured one and keep the other safe or you will likely lose them all.

 

[desertdarlene]

Sorry about your ducks, Cschoer. But, yes, you should secure them at night because no matter what you do, wildlife and predators will always be around and you can't just eradicate the problem without causing other problems.

 

[bgossett]

Ive had baby ducks, just never hatched them out before, when I have them small like that I always put them in a brooder with a heat lamp and a gallon waterier that ive got to fill twice a day, but that’s ok for me. I do have to clean them about twice a day because they are very messy and will play in the water. Last year the six that I got wasn’t let out on there own until they were fully fathered and even then I still would put them up at night. Fortunately for me the only time ive had any trouble with a predator was with the one who had a crooked neck, and that was because there was a very large dog that must have belonged to a nabors who my golden retriever was scared of, we are lucky to have her because she is very protective of my duck and chicken flock.

 

[bgossett]

Yeah ive read a lot on the humidity and how on the last three days you just leave them alone, but never knew about the shrinking, thanks for that info. I have read that I need to have there humidity at around 70% to 80% its at 70% or so right now. Just didn’t expect them to start piping today, now im scared to open them to add more water. I had added some yesterday hopefully it will be good until they hatch. Ive read up on incubating them, and have books but its always nice to get info from people on byc

 

[bgossett]

Just checked the humidity on the incubator it is a 80%, and the temp is 99.5. On the top of the incubator there is glass windows so that I can see inside, you can hear them peeping and moving. Sometimes you can see the eggs moving, if anyone has incubated duck eggs before please let me know if everything sounds like it is going good. Thank you for all of your feedback

 

[Megan Amber]

Well, you need to raise the humidity now if they are hatching. Spraying them lightly with warm water would be a good way to do that. I actually don't let mine dry in the incubator, I take them out right after they hatch and put them in the brooder. I use that time to bond with them and it has always worked out quite well.

 

[cschoer]

I know, I got just too comfortable. We have cleaned up the wounded duck. Pretty bloody but okay. The other duck is very comforting to the wounded one so I believe is going to be okay. Eating and drinking. That's for the heads up and appreciate your concern and advice. I will post again.

 

[bgossett]

One of my babys hatched at about 3:30am, it seems to be doing good. Now im just waiting on the other 8