Mama Duck Attacked!!

[L0rraine]

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The only thing I would add to this, is that I personally feel less bad when I let nature take it's course and things don't work out. I've tried to help a few and they've not made it, and the process was really traumatic for me.

(p.s. Just had my own tiny miracle which I've posted on the Incubating and Hatching thread. We'll see how things go - every time that little bugger stops peeping I panic.)

 

[katharinad]

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You did answer almost all of your question there. Ok I never hatched chickens, just ducks and quails, but brooding should be about the same. Read this thread and you will find the answers to it. A cage with cardboard around it and a regular lamp on top should work. A red light is better for chicken. Check your pet store where they sell lizzards if you don't want a 250 watt lamp. It think you need to get the heat up to 95 in the brooder for chicken. They need more then ducks. Check the chicken sticky to be sure.
Congratulations on your unexpected hatch.
Katharina

 

[MamacatPatch]

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Yes do keep us posted on YOUR hatching! Start a new thread though cause this one's getting BIG!! Easier to find yours too. I look forward to it, and some pix? Peas eh? Never feed ducks peas! My chickens love all that veggie stuff a lot. Might try it with my duckies! I'm keeping then indoors as long as possible. We do have a shed set up and have a kiddie pool to use, heat lamp, etc. Even tho it's warming well here, they are staying with mom as long as possible!!!

 

[MamacatPatch]

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Congrats! Yeah I'm like you, every time my lil duckies closed their eyes to sleep I was in panic thinking they were dying! I kept watching them breath! Sheesh!!

 

[MamacatPatch]

Okie dokie took pix this morning of the eggs left in the incubator. One was soup so I tossed it. The last three are possibly good! Can't they hatch later or do they all have to hatch around the same time? Doesn't mamaduck lay eggs for weeks before sitting? Or do they not start to develop until mom sits?

Anyway here's a quick pix of the all the babies. I am cleaning out their home today and putting them into a big cooler. Much easier to clean and I know how messy ducks are! They are already a sight! Heh.

And here are the eggs remaining in the incubator:

I will listen again today for any sounds in them. Two of them look funky.

 

[katharinad]

They look like they need another week of incubation. I'm skeptical of the one with air on both end. but I have read from people that those eggs sometimes have two chicks in it. They either both make it, one makes it, or both die. When in doubt put back into the incubator. 2 and 3 look like they need more time, but they look like they may have a blood ring which is not good. You may need to reduce the humidity and start back turning eggs for a while. Ducks tend to lay egg after egg until they have enough to start sitting. The eggs will not develop until the duck sits. You can store eggs up to 2 weeks in a cool place before setting them under heat to get them started. That's why some people buy chicken eggs in the grocery store and put them into an incubator. They usually look for organic free ranging chicken eggs in the hope that they had a rooster running loose. Wont happen with those from chicken cage batteries. BTW I always remove the temperature cage from the brooder once the temp is set right. The ducks are way to messy as is. You can always see if the temp it right by looking at them. They huddle it is to cold, they move a way from the light it is to warm. Really easy. You can use one of those super sized plastic tubs or a kiddie pool for them. They will be a handful and you have already have a trouble maker climbing the toy.

Put some peas in to the blender for them. They will go nuts over it. I use peas as a training thing. My ducks will follow me around in the yard because they love to beg for them. I can easily coach them to go into things just with peas. That includes walking through dog doors without the flap into the duck house. Mine take the peas out of my hand. Sunshine tends to nip my ankles when she wants them really bad. She knows better, but she also gets so excited. Just like a puppy. I have a bag of peas in the freezer and defrost as many as I need. Rinsing them under hot water will defrost them really fast. They also love corn, dandelions, leafy greens to name a few. It's good nutrition for them.

I also let my ducks swim in warm water once they are 2 days old. I use a paint tray in the bath tub, and fill it with nice warm water. That is supervised only, and only for a few minutes. After that towel off and back into the brooder. Its funny to watch them dive in the tray.
Katharina

 

[Jkioneil]

this thread makes me want to have ducks!

 

[duckyfromoz]

Just saw the video you made of number 4 hatching - what a nice clean hatch that was!!! I sometimes have them come out with just a little goo attached that means they dont "jump out" of the egg like that little one did-

Absolutely gorgeous. Hope they are all doing well.

 

[MamacatPatch]

Hey all! Just took and uploaded two videos of my four duckies' first bathtime! Geez, I'm just like a new mom, taking pix, taking vids, goo gooing & fussing! Anyhow if you're still interested they are here:

The other three eggs are still in the incubator but there is no signs of any movement or pipping. They look a bit funky too, splotchy and different. BUT I'll keep them in another week JUST TO BE SURE!

 

[katharinad]

They probably dive tomorrow. You will be amazed how fast they are under water. They love the bath time. Mine were waiting each morning for their bath routine. You will have to sit next to them and watch for fatigue, so they don't drown. You can tell that they had enough when they just float around and stopped playing.

I'm so glad you are going through this experience. It's way different then just buying ducklings. Many of us duck lovers get hooked on incubating eggs. Well the 4 will keep you busy for a while. Have you tried pureed peas yet?

Katharina