*~*Runner Duck Club*~*

[Lacrystol]

Sorry Cyndi. I thought Sally was helping you.

Ducks take longer than chickens, and 40+ hours from initial pip is not uncommon for mine, but I've never hatched runners.
If the hole is open well enough for it to breathe, I'd leave it a bit longer.
If you can't see the bill, you could open the hole just a bit wider. If there is any exposed membrane, a little vaseline on it won't hurt.

OH shoots I didn't know she was already getting advice from someone else. OOPS..

 

[Lacrystol]

Thanks for helping me, Sally has asked me a couple of Q's. I am asking everyone and anyone who can help.
I can not see any membrane or beak on any of the 4 eggs.

except for this egg on the right did have some membrane oozing out this morning and now it looks dried.
should I still put vasaline on the right egg? Should I assist the other 3 by opening the shells a little more?
It has been 2 to 2.5 days from internal to external pipping as this is how far they (4) have come in that amount of time. Is this OK?

I would not assist just yet, I would hate to give some advice if your already getting some because that can cause confusing. But if it's not going to cause any controversity I'm sure i can help.

 

[Lacrystol]

Thanks for your help ladies...

I opened this one a little and it was Not moving. When I pulled the shell up I could see a thin membrane...
I've never seen a "shrink wrap" but I think that is what happened?
what do you think?
The other 3, I THINK, I heard sound with my stethoscope... I did it real fast and I was shaking, so not sure if I was hearing the egg or me???
I will wait until tomorrow and see what happens??
I dont know what else to do.?
Thanks again

Ok he's not shrink wrapped, is he still alive? you said he's not moving??

 

[Lacrystol]

I opened all 5, Awwhhh, there were some beautiful ducks in there. One was from my fawn & white runner, that i really wanted, it was beautiful.
I dont know enough about "why" they didnt make it all the way. they were at different stages of growth. I will research reasons.
thanks for everything.

Are you saying all five died?? Ouch. OK can you tell me what the temp and humidity is or was at? When you took the baby out did you happened to touch him? Can you tell me did he feel sticky??

 

[Gone-Quackers]

Hi, Help please... since I took these 2 ducklings out of the bator/hatcher last night, the other 4 that are pipping in the bator, have not had much advances for the past 12 hours. one was rocking shortly after I took the 2 ducklings out and this morning one other egg has advanced a little bit and has some (gewh--for lack of a better word) oozing out of one of the cracks/pips. But I have hot seen any changes in growth since early this morning!!!
what should I do? should I open the bator and help them hatch? THEY ARE ON DAY 30
ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME!!
THANK YOU

Check the humidity. Sometimes misting the eggs can help.

 

[CyndiD]

Hi ladies... I thought I owed you an update. I had a total of 5 ducklings hatch. The one in question (above) did not make it. I examined the egg and it looks like it was Too Big and couldn't get out. I wish i would of known this and been able to help it hatch. it was a beautiful Buff, and possibly w/Pekin.
The 1st hatche at day 28, the 2nd day 29, the 3rd, 4th and 5th hatched on day 31. All look well, 2 had a closed/crusty eye for a day. I am treating their eyes, but seem fine. The 2 dark ducklings have already gone to a new wonderful home and I have the other 3.

I will keep these 3 cuties. Since my dogs like them.

Thank you so much ladies for all your help. I really appreciate all you have done.

 

[CyndiD]

Are you saying all five died??  Ouch.  OK can you tell me what the temp and humidity is or was at? When you took the baby out did you happened to touch him?  Can you tell me did he feel sticky??

I had 10 total in the hatcher/lockdown. 5 total made it all the way to hatch.
What I ment was the 5 that had not made any progress, pipping internally or externally are the ones that I examined and opened their shell. I took pics and will try to figure out why they didn't make it. No, the egg in question (too large for shell) did not feel sticky, that I can remember. I have a pic of it if you would like to see it? If this would help you help me?
thanks for your help. You really did help me make my decisions for helping these cuties.

 

[PotatoWaffles]

Okay, got a question for people who own fawn and white runners did your ducks' bills change color as they got older? My fawn and white, Duckasaurus, had a bright orange bill at first. At a couple months old, she got a few freckles. And then more and more and more, and now her beak is almost solid green/gray. Is this normal for the breed, like cayugas getting white feathers? Or is my duck the odd duck out? I'm just curious really

Here is her lovely orange bill at five weeks old:

And at four months old: she has a few freckles here

And her bill now is mostly mud colored:

 

[CyndiD]

April 2014

This was May 2014

This wasJune 2014

This was Feb 2015

This is July 2015 and she was molting

This is Jan 2016
I think the time of year also plays into it, diet & age & the amount of water they play in. I read about it but have forgotten what i read, i think matting has some play into the color also?
But bottom line, yes it is pretty normal but i am sure there are signs to watch for that may not be ok.
The 2 f/w runners were my first 2 ducks i have had, now i have 19. I just hatched 5, gave 2 to a friend & i have 5 broody ducks sitting on 10 eggs each. WOW!!! huh?
Thanks for sharing your pics & thoughts.

 

[Tevyes Dad]

Okay, got a question for people who own fawn and white runners

did your ducks' bills change color as they got older? My fawn and white, Duckasaurus, had a bright orange bill at first. At a couple months old, she got a few freckles. And then more and more and more, and now her beak is almost solid green/gray. Is this normal for the breed, like cayugas getting white feathers? Or is my duck the odd duck out? I'm just curious really

Here is her lovely orange bill at five weeks old:

And at four months old: she has a few freckles here

And her bill now is mostly mud colored:

This is normal across the board. Ducks with orange bills, blue bills and green bills all loose their pretty colors to darker browns and blacks as they lay eggs. I believe this is part hormonal and part nutritional and depends on bill color.

Entie May 14th, 2014 hasn't laid any eggs yet (2 months ago she was an egg):
Close to pristine.




Entie July 29th, 2015 of last year laying like crazy - (the red is watermelon):
Very dark and speckled.


Entie January 11th, 2016 before she started laying again:
Mostly clear still a little darker.


As a point of illustration on another color bill (they don't freckle as much as orange bills)

Here is Rhiannon on Aug 9, 2015 in full lay:
(almost totally black bill)


Here she is on December 3rd, 2015 she is on break (and got in a nice not-bleached-yet molt

)
(you can see quite a bit of clean green in her bill.)