I set eggs 2/27/10 ** DUE 3/20th-3/21st** WE"RE HATCHING!!!!

[ilovebuffs]

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Our old property had 2 ponds - but that was before we had ducks, and now we live in the middle of the woods, surrounded by mature oaks, and no ponds.

Even if we did have a pond here, I don't think I'd let the ducks have access to it - they're terribly messy and they'd dabble at the banks until they eroded away and made the pond into a stinky, muddy puddle. Each of my duck pens has a plastic kiddie pool in it - each one gets dumped out every evening, and refilled every morning; they're easy to keep clean.

If you're serious about getting ducks, I have plenty of eggs I could send you!

new2chooks - I can't wait to see some pictures! I'm living vicariously though all of you until my eggs finally start hatching!

Annarie, What do you do about hawks? I only ask because we had 2 ducks about 6 yrs ago. We don't have a pond either. But one day a hawk came and got both of them. I was so mad

We have trees around the house but not right up close to it. They always hung out in the front yard. I guess the hawks were checking out the situation. My DH said we shouldn't have had the ducks anyways because we had no water for them, other than a creek on the back of the property.

 

[prncssprplfrog]

Annarie~

I would LOVE some of your duck eggs, but I think I'll wait a bit & let the waters cool from my chick hatching craze first. We only live on less than an acre now & I'm living with my mom until I can get my own place.

Ideally I would love to find a semi-wooded area to put a small house w/ ALL the animals I can hold since it's just my 13yr old and me.



Anybody know a guy w/some land who's looking for someone? I'm a great cook......

 

[Sweetfolly]

prncssprplfrog - I'm in college and living on my mom's property right now too! We have plenty of space though, and with all the childcare I provide for my little sisters while she's at work, I don't think she'd mind if I stayed until I was 30! In fact, once I graduate, she and I are planning on buying a larger piece of property together, and having a real hobby farm - she wants Alpacas.

ilovebuffs - I have nylon flight netting over my runs, and we haven't lost a single bird to any predator yet. We have LOTS of hawks - there's a beautiful Cooper's Hawk that nests right along our driveway every summer, and swoops over our heads when we try to walk the dogs.

I just candled the Cochin eggs that are on Day 10 in my 'bator - I still have 8 of the 12 that were shipped going strong! 1 had a broken air cell, and three were clear - I broke them open this morning, and they were definately fertile, but for whatever reason never developed.

They seem to be drying out fast - I have to be really on top of checking the water levels in the 'bator. If I don't keep the humidity between 50-60% (I know, it seems high), the air cells get HUGE. I was on another thread earlier, and someone said that Bantam eggs tend to dry out faster and need higher humidity levels.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I have 1 out, 1 halfway zipped and 6 other pips. I'm trying to upload pics, but my computer isn't cooperating at the moment.

 

[prncssprplfrog]

I was so excited- I bought 6+ BCM eggs & they were shipped to me pretty well. I was shipped 8, so I figured 50% average for people with shipped eggs- I would get 3-4 BCMs.......The air cells were sloppy & I was afraid that a few were either broken or just not right. I knew from the get-go that one wasn't going to do well. That one did indeed quit. Everyone else was cooking along great- 7 dancing little chicks until.....Last night was day 14.....I candled & 2-3 weren't moving around anymore. They are pretty dark even with my good LED, but the way the "chick" and insides moved reminded me of the cochin egg that I finally tossed last time that started to smell.
They moved around sloshy-like when I rotated the egg back and forth a bit. Does that make sense? I don't think that the live embryos do that. I'm really bummed! I know better than to give up hope yet & I'm not going to toss those yet until I'm possitive there's no life left in them.....but.....it still sucks!



Annarie~ I'll be 35 this summer, but helped my mom with my dad's care until he passed a few months ago. That and being a single mom, I couldn't have afforded a place by myself. Now I need to finish my masters degree to make sure & keep my teaching degree. Here's hoping for the mega millions lotto jackpot!!

I agree- babysitting for room, board & a "partner" in a hobby-farm is WELL worth the trade-offs. Besides- I think with the economy the way it is- larger, extended families are going to become the norm again.


BTW- my mother hates birds & tolerates my "whims" with an eye roll....at least she gets good eggs from the deal.

 

[prncssprplfrog]

No movement but....I HEARD A PEEP!!!!!

I've let the water run dry & the humidity reads 43% on my dial hygrometer from petsmart (didn't have time to calibrate it) & 60-55% on the other. Should I wait until morning to put water in or put about 1/4 inch in now? Don't wanna drown but don't wanna shrink-rap either. SO STRESSFUL! How do the chickens handle it!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Here's some pics!

Here's my blue Orp passed out.

And after it dried a bit.

And a silver penciled rock that just hatched. (This was the 3rd)

I have a splash Orp too, but haven't been able to get a shot of it yet. (it's resting in the corner)

 

[lockedhearts]

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That Blue Orp Pic is adorable!

 

[fordmommy]

Congrats on those babies! I have a Splash Orp. She's one of my favorite girls. Really good natured. Never even tries to peck you. Not even sitting on her eggs. The most she does is screech. Louise. Her feathers are kinda curly. She's really cool. I'd love more like her. She had a sister, Thema. But she must of landed wrong one time jumping down from their perch and dislocated or broke her leg and I had to cull her.

 

[prncssprplfrog]

I can't sleep I've got a massive pip.....peeping away.....I really wanna just reach in and flick that big piece of shell out of the way and peek!