farmfreshhens
In the Brooder
- May 24, 2018
- 16
- 33
- 49
I need some advice please. This is my first attempt at hatching call duck eggs. We started with 41 eggs. Our females wouldn't sit. After a week we candled and the number dropped to 14. Out of 14 we had 4 die in their shells, 6 hatches. One was a "star gazer" and perished within 12 hours, poor thing. 4 are hale and hearty, but one, little Eggbert had issues.
This little one was malpositioned in the egg with his feet over his head. He managed to crack the shell and chipped loud enough we heard him. We helped the shell off his head, just enough to see he couldn't break out on his own. We waited, then removed more...then more, finally he wiggled free.
The yolk had been absorbed but his tummy hadn't closed yet. He was TINY! and worst of all his poor little feet are knuckled under.
Hubby said he wouldn't make it, but he's a week old now. He eats, drinks, preens and acts like a normal duck except he walks on the tops of his feet and his wings seems short.
He's in with the other ducklings who are now 3 times his size and interacts with them.
I massage his legs and feet daily after soaking them in warm water. The feet have circulation and one foot has uncurled a lot but both are still bent under. He is getting extra B vitamins.
He is the sweetest little thing and tried so very hard. Is there anything else I can do?
This little one was malpositioned in the egg with his feet over his head. He managed to crack the shell and chipped loud enough we heard him. We helped the shell off his head, just enough to see he couldn't break out on his own. We waited, then removed more...then more, finally he wiggled free.
The yolk had been absorbed but his tummy hadn't closed yet. He was TINY! and worst of all his poor little feet are knuckled under.
Hubby said he wouldn't make it, but he's a week old now. He eats, drinks, preens and acts like a normal duck except he walks on the tops of his feet and his wings seems short.
He's in with the other ducklings who are now 3 times his size and interacts with them.
I massage his legs and feet daily after soaking them in warm water. The feet have circulation and one foot has uncurled a lot but both are still bent under. He is getting extra B vitamins.
He is the sweetest little thing and tried so very hard. Is there anything else I can do?
