- May 18, 2012
- 25
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We have been transfixed by our beautiful new indian runner ducklings this weekend. All hatched early, and all came out very well (well, one of the 10 piped at the wrong end, and I helped peel the shell back... )
So there was one left in the incubator. The others hatched on day 26/27. This last egg still showed that the duckling was alive (I candled after everyone was out of the bator). We waited until the evening of the 28th day (still could have been too early for her...)
and then i intervened. She is super wrong this morning. Still alive, but her eyes are not open - her head is tucked against her body, she has no coordination... yikes. Now I am totally confused as to what to do next. Having read many accounts on BYC of hatch intervention with perfectly healthy babies (after helping them out) I dove into this intervention without considering the possibility that she was not able to make it out for a reason.
Huge ethical issues coming up for me! This process was a homeschooling project with my young kids - so now that's a factor.
I guess my question to anyone out there is:
A. what's wrong with her
B. What now?????
C. If she makes it through the day, should I put her in with the rest of the flock?
D. what have you all done in this situation?
hmmmm. feeling like a chump for getting involved! Also wondering about my neighbors flock - all of the hatchery eggs we got were
fine (save the ones that were early deaths). The white runners (who are from local ducks) were the only ones who had weird issues at the end (Last Baby is white, also). OK - any reflections on this issue in general would be most appreciated!
So there was one left in the incubator. The others hatched on day 26/27. This last egg still showed that the duckling was alive (I candled after everyone was out of the bator). We waited until the evening of the 28th day (still could have been too early for her...)
and then i intervened. She is super wrong this morning. Still alive, but her eyes are not open - her head is tucked against her body, she has no coordination... yikes. Now I am totally confused as to what to do next. Having read many accounts on BYC of hatch intervention with perfectly healthy babies (after helping them out) I dove into this intervention without considering the possibility that she was not able to make it out for a reason.
Huge ethical issues coming up for me! This process was a homeschooling project with my young kids - so now that's a factor.
I guess my question to anyone out there is:
A. what's wrong with her
B. What now?????
C. If she makes it through the day, should I put her in with the rest of the flock?
D. what have you all done in this situation?
hmmmm. feeling like a chump for getting involved! Also wondering about my neighbors flock - all of the hatchery eggs we got were
fine (save the ones that were early deaths). The white runners (who are from local ducks) were the only ones who had weird issues at the end (Last Baby is white, also). OK - any reflections on this issue in general would be most appreciated!
