setting eggs tomorrow.... 3-21-12 who wants to join?

[kuntrygirl]

here is a picture of my one lone survivor... I helped hatch her all the way... She is doing GREAT!
 

She is a cutie pie.

 

[DirtCreature]

thanks! i kinda like her too... LOL (jk)

 

[yoie]

Here is my outcome of my little hatch. Not bad for my first time hatching ducks, let alone calls!

 

[DirtCreature]

Here is my outcome of my little hatch. Not bad for my first time hatching ducks, let alone calls!

 

[rgvchicks]

Here is my outcome of my little hatch. Not bad for my first time hatching ducks, let alone calls!

****.....take a look at them cuties.......muah.......

 

[AinaWGSD]

Well, we're down to 16

One of the blue babies developed a cross beak that my husband noticed about 3 days after hatch. That's about when the last cross beak I had (ordered from a hatchery) developed hers, so I figured we'd see how far it went because I just couldn't see culling an otherwise perfectly healthy chick. I figured if it turned out to be a roo we'd eat it, and if it were a hen I'd see if anyone on the local chicken list was interested in taking on a special needs hen (since we feed pellets she wouldn't be able to eat enough to survive here and I have no interest in keeping another cross beak). Well, by this weekend the poor little chick's beak had become as bad as the last cross beak's beak had been by the time she was mature. It seemed clear to me that this bird's deformity was going to be severe enough that s/he would probably require tube feeding to survive, and I just didn't see a high quality of life. It was so hard making the decision to kill a chick that seemed so healthy except for a deformity that would eventually prevent her from eating. But I really didn't see "her" being able to survive without a lot of extra help that I am not prepared to give and it was only going to be harder the longer we waited.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Here is my outcome of my little hatch. Not bad for my first time hatching ducks, let alone calls!

CUTE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sphinx]

Aina, I'm so sorry about your chick. I think quality of life is extremely important, and too often it's overlooked.

yoie, your ducks are so adorable. I want to hatch ducks, but don't want to keep them. LOL

 

[ryechickens]

Glad to see everybody did so well... Sorry for those of you that lost some.... I lost some too, and haven't figured out what I am doing wrong there either... I ended up hatching 3 New Hampshires, and 5 Black stars, but ended up losing one of the NH and 2 of the black stars. The last one was real traumatizing... I was afraid it may have gotten too cold, since it was hanging out at the cooler end of the brooder. I gave at a few little drinks, and was trying to warm it up. I thought I was making some progress, when it suddenly jumped clear out of my hand and dropped about 2 feet, after which it was dead for sure. Am trying another batch, though and hoping to have better luck. Have messed a few things up after making some modifications, but seem to be developing pretty well after my first candeling. Thanks for all of your help! Let me know how your next batches go.

Thanks,

TJ

 

[kmelott]

I set mine on this day also