Mixed ducklings… did we just get unlucky?

[DuckyMama4]

So little lady really perked up after the save a chick! I had her separated from the other ducklings as I was worried about her. We also really wanted to try to introduce her to the mamas in the coop so I didn’t want her to form a bond with the ducklings in the brooder just to be separated from them a short time later. She ended trying to escape my little ducky isolation unit and was peeping wildly when she could hear the others. As soon my husband got home from work we decided to try and sneak her out to the coop. Our plan really did not go as intended and originally I thought we were doomed. Our broody girl scooped all 5 of her eggs out the nest and neither duck would go up to little duckling. The two ducklings that hatched in the coop took to her right away and immediately led her to mama! We checked on them about 45 minutes later and broody had her eggs back in the nest and was sitting on them, all three ducklings were tucked in nicely between the co-parents! We peeked in on them again when we tucked everyone in for bed and little girl was tucked warmly under mama… she did perk her little head up at us and then picked on her older brother. I am confident she is in good hands out there! I’m still hoping to give the girls the other eggs as they hatch but I definitely need to come up with a new plan.

 

[DuckyMama4]

I had to assist one of the cracked eggs. Egg was about 1/3 of the way zipped and then stalled out for a little over 30 minutes. Peeping wildly and rocking that egg around! I worked a bit on the zip but then realized the membrane was very brown and gooey on the side toward the duckling. Little one was pushing very hard to get its head out. I got just the right amount and out came the head. Popped it back in the incubator and it has only been making mild attempts to release from the shell. Barely picking up it’s head. I’m hoping with a bit of rest it will have the strength to push the rest of the way out. I’m also fairly confident we got our first Swedish egg!

Oh, I suppose I spoke to soon! It just got out!

 

[DuckyMama4]

All 6 pipped eggs that I brought in from the nest have hatched! 3 Rouen or Welsh eggs and 2 Swedish eggs. I’m so happy that there were a couple of Waddle’s eggs in there.

 

[N Good]

All 6 pipped eggs that I brought in from the nest have hatched! 3 Rouen or Welsh eggs and 2 Swedish eggs. I’m so happy that there were a couple of Waddle’s eggs in there.

Wow, you've got quite the excitement going on in your house! Congratulations!!

 

[DuckyMama4]

Wow, you've got quite the excitement going on in your house! Congratulations!!

Haha! Yes, it has been a very exciting week! We had ducklings hatching for 5 days straight. Whew!

We are up to 17 ducklings!
The final 4 eggs are in the incubator…

We are loving the ducklings but I am exhausted! Lol!

 

[N Good]

Haha! Yes, it has been a very exciting week! We had ducklings hatching for 5 days straight. Whew!

We are up to 17 ducklings!
The final 4 eggs are in the incubator…

We are loving the ducklings but I am exhausted! Lol!

We have 14 ducklings, 4 we hatched in an incubator 5 weeks ago, 4 more wet bought (new breed) 4 weeks ago, and 6 hatched by a broody hen 1 week ago. So not quite as exhausting as yours, but it keeps you busy!!

 

[DuckyMama4]

Update- We ended up with a total of 19 ducklings! What an adventure it has been. We found homes for 12 of them and decided to keep 7. Here is how the seven we kept are looking at 8/9 weeks old.

 

[DuckyMama4]

This is Lil Bit- the only male we kept. He had an injury to his web when he was about two weeks old but has had no further issues with it, thankfully!

 

[DuckyMama4]

Our “brown Swedish” girl. And, one girl who is significantly lighter then her three look alike sisters.

 

[DuckyMama4]

This is Twist, our only female Pekin/Khaki cross. Mama is named Vanilla and Dad is Chocolate.