It’s hard to think of it that way, but helpful as well!

We get very emotionally invested in our animals and when one passes away it hurts.
I’m such a nervous wreck STILL about my lone egg in lockdown. I did put a safety hole about 3 hours ago. It’s almost impossible not to check on it CONSTANTLY!!!
I have the lockdown incubator in our bedroom next to my side of the bed and get up every few hours to check it and make sure the humidity is correct.
I’m using my not so great incubator for lockdown because I have all my other staggered ages of eggs in my good one. The one I’m using needs constant maintenance and attention.
My poor hubby is a light sleeper and I wake him each time I get up.

This has been going on for 2 weeks now due to the loss of our first one and a day later the next one started piping and needed to go into lockdown.
Muscovy’s are very different and very difficult to incubate and take up to 38 days!!
They take longer to hatch as well.
My Wood ducks had no issues except one passed away due to a deformed leg, blind in one eye and a neurological condition.
My vet said to put her down, but since I had to care for her separately she imprinted with me and I had to carry her around in a little sling, hand feed and water her and she slept in between us in my daughter co-sleeping infant bed!! If I put her down she’d go nuts and cry if she didn’t see or hear me. So I had a toddler on one hip and a duckling on the other!

She lived for 10 days and one morning I was holding her and she had a massive seizure and passed away in my arms.
I was absolutely gutted and sobbed on and off for a week! I bonded with this tiny baby very much, and I still cry when I look at pictures of her.
I think I’m way too sensitive for this, but I love animals and so do my little girls.
I’m just hoping this little one hatches healthy and happy, and I have 18 more eggs to go! Lol!
All developing nicely but all different ages. I’ll be a zombie by the time I’m done!
Thankfully I’m a Clinical Psychologist and I only have to go to the office once a week. I see my patients via TeleHealth right here at home. I’m very blessed that I’m able to do that so I can be a stay at home mother and care for the animals and our home.
Thank you for all your help and kindness. It means very much to me!
Here is a photo of “Pip” who was born with his yolk sac unabsorbed and “Jellybean” our special baby.

Look at her size difference next to her siblings! Poor sweet soul..
Blessings,
Amy