Saxony Eggs Due on 5/20!!!

[BlueCamas]

10 Saxony duck eggs are due to hatch on 5/20

I've never been so excited for a hatch before, I want my duckies!!! I wanted Saxonies directly from Holderreads, but they had nothing available until the fall so I broke down and bought eggs off of ebay from 2 different breeders who both got their stock from Holderreads so that's nearly as good. Out of a total of 14 eggs 10 made it to lock down (nearly lock down) and hopefully most of them hatch! Not bad for shipped eggs

I've wanted ducks for a while and I love the look and size of Saxonies. I want to keep the best trio out of the ducklings hatched, so hopefully most of the 10 hatch so I have lots to pick from.

After the ducklings hatch the dilemma is how to brood them! What are your favorite methods to brood ducklings?

My plan is to brood them in a large plastic guinea pig style cage for about a week and then move them to a medium sized kitty pool until the weather get nice enough to move them in a soon to be finished small duck coop/pen.

This will be my first time hatching and raising ducks so I have a few feeding/watering questions? Is 18% protein OK for growing chicks? Also, where do I get Brewers Yeast? What have you guys found to be the cleanest waterer that keeps the brooder dry for as long as possible? Can you post pics if you do? Thanks in advance!

I will keep this thread updated as the ducklings start to hatch

 

[BlueCamas]

I think these are the 2 breeders I bought eggs from on ebay...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Saxony-D...867?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item460f601163

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Saxony-D...153?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27d2da8e31

 

[BlueCamas]

So far 7 of the 10 eggs are pipped so some babies should be out by tomorrow morning

 

[AvianEgo]

I too have saxonies incubating! I bought mine from the first breeder you listed. I hope i have some good luck.

 

[Goin Quackrrs]

I think these are the 2 breeders I bought eggs from on ebay...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Saxony-D...867?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item460f601163

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Saxony-D...153?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27d2da8e31

I've bought eggs from both sellers. Unfortunately the post office was not kind to either shipment. I have a male and female pair of adult Saxony, one juvenile Saxony and one blind baby who I'm doting over constantly. Lucky for me, I found a local egg source, so I have 8 of 12 due in two weeks.

 

[Goin Quackrrs]

10 Saxony duck eggs are due to hatch on 5/20

I've never been so excited for a hatch before, I want my duckies!!! I wanted Saxonies directly from Holderreads, but they had nothing available until the fall so I broke down and bought eggs off of ebay from 2 different breeders who both got their stock from Holderreads so that's nearly as good. Out of a total of 14 eggs 10 made it to lock down (nearly lock down) and hopefully most of them hatch! Not bad for shipped eggs

I've wanted ducks for a while and I love the look and size of Saxonies. I want to keep the best trio out of the ducklings hatched, so hopefully most of the 10 hatch so I have lots to pick from.

After the ducklings hatch the dilemma is how to brood them! What are your favorite methods to brood ducklings?

My plan is to brood them in a large plastic guinea pig style cage for about a week and then move them to a medium sized kitty pool until the weather get nice enough to move them in a soon to be finished small duck coop/pen.

This will be my first time hatching and raising ducks so I have a few feeding/watering questions? Is 18% protein OK for growing chicks? Also, where do I get Brewers Yeast? What have you guys found to be the cleanest waterer that keeps the brooder dry for as long as possible? Can you post pics if you do? Thanks in advance!

I will keep this thread updated as the ducklings start to hatch

To address your questions:

I have mine in a large terrarium for the first week and then move them into Rubbermaid tubs until they're ready to go outside. We're having better weather than the past few years, so I haven't had to use my desperation measure of bathtub brooding yet.

I feed 20% for the first 4 weeks, then an all-purpose week until 16 weeks and then switch to layer.

I use nutritional yeast from Fred Meyer's bulk section. Concentrates Inc carries large bags or Brewer's Yeast, but I never use enough to justify buying the big bags.

The best waterer is probably the homemade milk jug setup a lot of people make. You might try to search "milk jug waterer" here to see how they are made.

Enjoy the Saxony babies and don't forget to share photos!

 

[BlueCamas]

Thanks for the responses guys

so far 7 out of the 10 are out with one more still pipping/zipping. I had to assist 6 out of the 7 as they all pipped on Saturday and had made little progress by Sunday evening. Thankfully all were ready and practically jumped out of their shells! Such big babies for such little eggs! The one still trying to hatch blood vessels haven;t receded completely yet, so won't try and get him out until tomorrow. i only snapped a couple pics of the first 2 duckies in the brooder, but I promise there will be a plenty more pics to come

 

[farmer boy]

i have a broody saxony she is on 18 eggs .. she is pure bred but her mate is a rouen x pekin so they will be a cross bred but i don't care lol i just want ducklings .. i hatched some eggs from them 2 not that long ago and they were so cute ... i can take a pic tomorrow maybe if you guys want to see her and the eggs .. are you guys experienced duck people ?????

 

[Goin Quackrrs]

Thanks for the responses guys

so far 7 out of the 10 are out with one more still pipping/zipping. I had to assist 6 out of the 7 as they all pipped on Saturday and had made little progress by Sunday evening. Thankfully all were ready and practically jumped out of their shells! Such big babies for such little eggs! The one still trying to hatch blood vessels haven;t receded completely yet, so won't try and get him out until tomorrow. i only snapped a couple pics of the first 2 duckies in the brooder, but I promise there will be a plenty more pics to come

Sweet babies! I can't wait for hatch day for mine!

i have a broody saxony she is on 18 eggs .. she is pure bred but her mate is a rouen x pekin so they will be a cross bred but i don't care lol i just want ducklings .. i hatched some eggs from them 2 not that long ago and they were so cute ... i can take a pic tomorrow maybe if you guys want to see her and the eggs .. are you guys experienced duck people ?????

I'd love to see pics!

I've been working with ducks for about 2.5 years. Love them to death, best birds ever!

 

[farmer boy]

okay well when my saxony was off the nest and out in the yard foraging her mate went in and he went over to her nest and he was sorta walking into the nest slowly and low to the ground and he was putting his bill on the eggs what was he doing ???