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

[Lacrystol]

How long should I expect there to be before an external pip? Just a range of time is good. Just wondering when I might see a baby. Also, I was told that duck eggs are much thicker so it takes much longer for them to pip and zip. Is this correct info? Thanks everyone!

Yes they do take longer, at least 24 to 48 hours.

 

[Lacrystol]

Thanks for the insight! I got to school this morning to find the egg in mid zip! Not sure when he started but I am so excited I can't hardly contain myself! I am probably more excited than the kids at this point! lol Hopefully I have a baby soon!

NICE and the fun begins....

 

[Lacrystol]

Woohoo! He just hatched! The students are calling him Bill on account of a noticing by another student that his "beak" looks different than the chicks. I explained that its called a bill and not a beak so they decided Bill should be his name! lol They are so funny!

OMG< THAT IS ADORABLE... LOL

 

[casportpony]

Congrats!

-Kathy

 

[Teacherchick18]

Thanks everyone! I am wondering, can I put him in with my chicks until more of his friends hatch? He hatched 2 days early. Or can chickens and ducks not be together?

 

[casportpony]

Thanks everyone! I am wondering, can I put him in with my chicks until more of his friends hatch? He hatched 2 days early. Or can chickens and ducks not be together?

I keep ducklings with chicks that are already a few days old.

-Kathy

 

[Teacherchick18]

I keep ducklings with chicks that are already a few days old.

-Kathy

Ok. I put him in with 3 chicks that are about 8 days old. They seem to be doing ok. when I had him with all 12 they were just running him over. A few are better.

 

[Lacrystol]

Thanks everyone! I am wondering, can I put him in with my chicks until more of his friends hatch? He hatched 2 days early. Or can chickens and ducks not be together?

They can be together, the ONLY problem you could end up with is once the duck as discovers water, and I mean DISCOVERs it, they usually make a huge mess, leaving the chicks wet all the time, could cause problems for the chick.. But I have combined my ducks with chickens all the time, just have to keep them very clean and dry. It's a lot of work but not impossible.

In fact here's an interesting story, my duck grew up with one of my chickens and when it was time to be an adult, the duck would go swimming and the chick would follow, he was stand in the water waiting for the duck to come out. He never went to far to where he would drown just stuck by him. But once the hormones kicked in off went the duck to hang out with other ducks and off the chicken went to get some lady friends. Yes, chicken was a Rooster.. LOL

 

[casportpony]

She's right, the ducklings can get the chicks too wet, so watch for that.

-Kathy

 

[Lynn Manes]

I'm a momma!! Pip is finally here!! I think he is a khaki..?

Congratulations! It's really nerve wracking huh? I'm new at this too