June Hatch A Long

[Bookworm0124]

My husband, who is not really an animal person or into poultry, was mentioning something about hatching duck eggs. I said “Really? You told me last year that you never want me to hatch ducklings again.” He didn’t recall any of it and said he must not have noticed the ducklings. I said “Oh no, you remember, you just blocked it out. Picture this: you smell something unpleasant in the kitchen. So, you follow the smell and walk into the garage and there’s this really terrible smell.” It all came rushing back to him, and he looked queasy! By the time we got the coop done, I had 15 ducklings, 15 chicks, and 15 keets (all 1 month old by then) in a brooder in the garage. The mess generated every day was awe inspiring. Every evening, I spent several hours changing all of the brooder bedding (puppy pads by then), cleaned all of their dishes, and then replaced it all. It was a 4 x 8 ft brooder, and it smelled great overnight, then by the time I got home from work the next day... ugh! And my mom and cousin and goddaughter were visiting! Those ducklings were incredibly cute little abominable snowmen!!!

They're lucky they're so damn cute. I like ducklings a lot better once they go outside ha ha. Mine from the beginning of the month made their first field trip outside today for an hour or too. Hoping to set up a day time pen for them soon to cut down on brooder mess. Once I send my Drake to freezer camp it'll be easier. I won't have to worry about him getting in, and my hen is still sitting so she doesn't come out much.
The chickens on the other hand were FASCINATED by the little quacking things.
Fun note since we talked about it previously, I sexed these ducklings at hatch as 2 girls and a boy. Two are now quacking so it seems these birds are sexable. I hope it continues once a new Drake hatches and grows up.

 

[LuckyCluckyCA]

I'm using a janoel12 incubator which is basically the same thing. I have a secondary thermometer/hydrometer I bought off Amazon that I use to monitor temp and humidity. I had a lot of trouble getting my humidity up my last (and first) hatch but it was recommended to me on her to add a small bowl of water or a damp sponge. That helped a TON.

With mine it’s the opposite. This minute it’s a 99degrees and 81 humidity - I’m off work in 1-2 hour and I’ll go get some little rocks

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

They're lucky they're so damn cute. I like ducklings a lot better once they go outside ha ha. Mine from the beginning of the month made their first field trip outside today for an hour or too. Hoping to set up a day time pen for them soon to cut down on brooder mess. Once I send my Drake to freezer camp it'll be easier. I won't have to worry about him getting in, and my hen is still sitting so she doesn't come out much.
The chickens on the other hand were FASCINATED by the little quacking things.
Fun note since we talked about it previously, I sexed these ducklings at hatch as 2 girls and a boy. Two are now quacking so it seems these birds are sexable. I hope it continues once a new Drake hatches and grows up.

View attachment 1826188 View attachment 1826190

OMG - how big are those babies!!! Sexed by bill color? Yes, outside is SO much better!!!!

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

What’s happening with your hatch, Gary?

Its not looking good
day 7 one started getting veins on day 3, I cannot see any progress on the rest. If no change by day 10 I am pulling the plug.

Thanks

gary

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Its not looking good
day 7 one started getting veins on day 3, I cannot see any progress on the rest. If no change by day 10 I am pulling the plug.

Thanks

gary

Awww, I’m sorry to hear that it’s not going so well!!!

 

[Bookworm0124]

OMG - how big are those babies!!! Sexed by bill color? Yes, outside is SO much better!!!!

The are the ones that hatched June first. It's nuts how fast they grow!! Welsh Harlequins can be sexed 90% of the time by bill color, lighter pink with a dark tip is a girl and darker throughout is a boy. But it seems some breeders are moving away from that. I heard that it's a "gold phase" influence and so that's possibly because only the silver phase is recognized by the APA.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Its not looking good
day 7 one started getting veins on day 3, I cannot see any progress on the rest. If no change by day 10 I am pulling the plug.

Thanks

gary

I'm so sorry! You may be able to reach out and see if anyone else has chicks hatching a couple days before yours so you could get a couple and it won't be alone.

 

[Bookworm0124]

Just checked the eggs in the incubator that had the big temperature spike, they're MOVING. Yaaay I didn't cook the babies! Four left in there, the two that I thought were duds are indeed duds. So down 5 I believe from the original 15 that were shipped so far. But I haven't closely looked at the eggs under my hen. She bit the egg carton I brought out with me the other day.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

The are the ones that hatched June first. It's nuts how fast they grow!! Welsh Harlequins can be sexed 90% of the time by bill color, lighter pink with a dark tip is a girl and darker throughout is a boy. But it seems some breeders are moving away from that. I heard that it's a "gold phase" influence and so that's possibly because only the silver phase is recognized by the APA.

Funny story! Our duck eggs were sold to us as pure WH from a bill sexable line. So when we had both gold (pink bill) and darker tipped (slate bill) ducklings, I thought one was gold, female, and one silver, male, phase. When they feathered out, “gold” were white and darker were typical WH colors, plus one bizarre marked guy, all of same layer body type. Both sexes in all colors. So, the breeder was horrified and offered to refund my money (he’s a coworker and ducks were for egg laying not breeding so I refused). Apparently, his pure WH got some white breed something in their background! They’ve been absolutely amazing layers though, until this week... Either there is an incredibly well hidden nest in the run somewhere, or having two broody ducks made all four (plus mallard, who knows with her!) ducks stop laying...

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Just checked the eggs in the incubator that had the big temperature spike, they're MOVING. Yaaay I didn't cook the babies! Four left in there, the two that I thought were duds are indeed duds. So down 5 I believe from the original 15 that were shipped so far. But I haven't closely looked at the eggs under my hen. She bit the egg carton I brought out with me the other day.

Oh that’s awesome news!!!!