June 2025 hatch-a-long

[PrettyCoolChicks]

Yup mine's loud too. My partner complained about my brinsea beeping when the turner activated. This one's heating/fan is kind of like having a car alarm constantly going off in the distance The turner is quiet enough at least, which is probably why i forgot to turn it on before

Curious how your new turner works out for you!

 

[BoundlessLove]

Candled the five eggs for the last time. All look fine.
Peggy still doing a great job.
Now we will see how well she handles hatching them out.

We’re debating on letting her raise them or putting them in a brooder.

If she raises them,
Pros- she has been great with these eggs, she is a fierce mama so far, it would be much easier on us, the ducklings would be seen daily by our flock
Cons- she is our smallest duck, she is a little bit gimpy, she won’t be able to protect them as well b/c of this

 

[PrettyCoolChicks]

I read many a story on these forums describing how bottom hens/tiny ducks became top of the flock after fiercely defending their chicks the first time they became mommies. (I probably would supervise at first and be ready to partition the coop if needed though.)

Do you factor in at all how the babies will react to humans in your decision? My chicken-raised hens are all skiddish and much less teachable than those I raised myself, but my people-raised ducks are a bit too mouthy for my taste

 

[BoundlessLove]

She is separated, but the others can still see her.
We raise ducklings in brooders and do not handle them. They imprint on each other.

 

[catsndogs4us]

Do you factor in at all how the babies will react to humans in your decision? My chicken-raised hens are all skiddish and much less teachable than those I raised myself,

This has been my experience too.

 

[AusHen]

Day 6 candle, 8 clear and 3 early quitters. That leaves 26 good eggs.

 

[PrettyCoolChicks]

Looks like 12 of the 17 duck eggs are developing so far (one of them a fixed up cracked egg). No visible veins yet on the new eggs, but yolks look darker for sure. I'll give the remaining clear/lighter ones a few more days just in case.

 

[BoundlessLove]

Woke up this morning and we have one duckling.
Peggy sitting on the other eggs.
Since our ducks are Blue Swedish, we were not sure what colors the little ones would be as two Blues do not breed true.
This first baby is a Silver Swedish.
Can’t see the color well because under the heat lamp and with chicks for now until more ducklings hatch.
In a few days, I will take another picture in natural light.

 

[RoseHawke]

Day 7 candle, four for sure, two questionable, the rest clear and blood rings. If any make it to hatching (at this point I'm not too hopeful,) these chick(s) are going to be more precious than gold.

 

[junior67]

Woke up this morning and we have one duckling.
Peggy sitting on the other eggs.
Since our ducks are Blue Swedish, we were not sure what colors the little ones would be as two Blues do not breed true.
This first baby is a Silver Swedish.
Can’t see the color well because under the heat lamp and with chicks for now until more ducklings hatch.
In a few days, I will take another picture in natural light.
View attachment 4130146

Omg I just love ducklings!!!!