My duck eggs hatching early!?!? Did I do something wrong?

[Lacrystol]

I used puppy pads when I had them in a huge plastic tote. They sure an soak them quickly!! Then moved them to a "chicken coop" and built a stand to sit in on, and put a screen under the waterer, with a rabbit catch pan underneath, lined with puppy pads. I could slide the tray out and change the pads easily. I used pine shavings on the other side and it didn't get to bad at all. Most of the water and poop ended up under the waterer.
(This was taken the first day. I later removed the ladder haha! )
Also ended up putting chickens in the house on top, and built a little platform out over the ducks for the chicks to come "outside" on.

LOL, they look sooo cute in there. Loving the dog LOL

 

[Lacrystol]

I'm up to 13! With a few more pipped that I know of!
Question... I have my week old babies, think I can integrate the new ones with them? When can I?

Yes, you can, I have done it. Just have to watch them because the older ones will try to bully them, once they stop there nuisance, all works out ok.

 

[Teacherchick18]

I have a little wooden square box that we made with chicken wire on top, and I put the pads down, there water bowl and I put another pie pan under the water bowl to kind of help a little with the messes. Then I heating lamp in one corner, so it has difference temp reading, . If they get to hot they move to the other side of the box, if it gets to cold, then they can go right to the heat.

Pie Pans! What a great idea! I think I will use that under their food too! It seems that the food always ends up out of the feeder. Especially with the chickens cause they will jump in and scratch at it lol.

Here's a question. At what age is it safe to introduce ducklings to water? I don't have any adult ducks to "show them the way" so I am unsure what age that it will become instinctual and they are old enough to handle being wet. I know that for little ones they shouldn't have access water right away, and my mother in law always tells me about her turkeys that would drown themselves in their water dish so I am paranoid when it comes to water!

 

[Lacrystol]

Pie Pans! What a great idea! I think I will use that under their food too! It seems that the food always ends up out of the feeder. Especially with the chickens cause they will jump in and scratch at it lol.

Here's a question. At what age is it safe to introduce ducklings to water? I don't have any adult ducks to "show them the way" so I am unsure what age that it will become instinctual and they are old enough to handle being wet. I know that for little ones they shouldn't have access water right away, and my mother in law always tells me about her turkeys that would drown themselves in their water dish so I am paranoid when it comes to water!

YES, chickens love to scratch..

Give them One week and only short warm swimming lessons, once there feathers start to come in which is about 3 weeks they can go outside if the weather permits..

At one week they produce there own oils and can stay afloat, if they had a mommy they can swim right away because she puts her oils on them..

 

[Bsranch3]

Give him a day see if building up strength doesn't correct it, if not, then give him some Vitamin E

In what form?

 

[Lacrystol]

In what form?

Pill, liquid doesn't matter has to be 400UI

 

[Bsranch3]

Pill, liquid doesn't matter has to be 400UI

400ui? Speak dummy to me

 

[Bsranch3]

And as of when I had to leave the house for work I had 14

 

[Lacrystol]

400ui? Speak dummy to me

LOL, if you look at the ingredients it will tell you. LOL Mine says it on the bottle too. OOPS sorry it's IU not UI so it's 400 IU..

 

[Lacrystol]

And as of when I had to leave the house for work I had 14

DANG YOU GO.......