HELP!!

[Jday]

They started breaking thru yesterday morning, so as of now it's been a day and half...I peeled the pieces of shell that was pecked open. When I tried to candle them they were all cheeping at me and moving around lol

 

[silkie1472]

Just curious, but do you have warm weather where you live. I know that ducks can lay throughout winter, but my ducks, which are mallards and rouens, stop laying in early august. It is usually 35-50 degrees here now, and they do not begin laying again until late march. My Pekins that I used to have did the same.

 

[Jday]

My peking has been laying since she has started, we live in Pennsylvania I have them in a heated shed, I think if it was up to my kids we would hatch them all lol

 

[silkie1472]

In Arkansas, my ducks live outside on a pond and as you can see, our yard on rainy days.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Silkie 1472, I am in West Tennessee so our weather should be similar, my Khaki Campbell started laying in July and is still giving me an egg a day. She doesn't get any extra light or heat. I suppose it could be the breed though.

Also, I meant to leave the hatching advice to you but mixed up my names.

Hang in there, Jday, waiting is the hardest part.

 

[Jday]

UPDATE::two hatched after,the one I should not have helped, we have now called him chip, the yolk has absorbed but the cord thing has not fell off yet and he is still weak. Any ideas to get him better?

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Yeah!!!

The duckling I helped hatch was weak for the first 24 hours, but he caught up. I believe you can put a small amount of sugar in his water.

 

[Jday]

Ok I'll try the sugar water he's very active but still week

 

[silkie1472]

Most of the time the ones you help will be weak for a few days. Adding sugar to the water or an electrolyte supplement will help give him energy, but he will probably struggle for the first few days. The cord may stay on for a while, but it is not really anything to worry about. When it does come off or he is no longer attatched to the egg, make sure the he has fluffed up a little before introducing him to the others. If part of the cord stays attatched, do not try to take it off as it is connected to things inside the duckling. Let it (the cord) dry completely and over the course of a week, slowly trim it off. If other ducklings peck at it a lot, you may need to move him somewhere by himself. But otherwise, just let him gain some strength and good luck with the rest of your hatch.

 

[Jday]

Thanks so much, I gave him some sugar water he is definitely active just weak I will definitely do what you said I appreciate your help!