Shaws call duck incubation thread (hatch a wonderful(worthless to Ralphie) dux thread)

[shawluvsbirds]

The ones in the brooder. They are still a tiny bit unsteady but can get around clumsily.

I try to get mine to eat and drink as soon as possible.

I know they can make it on their yolk for quite some time But it seems to me they get their strength faster if they start at least taking a few sips of water pretty soon after they get fluffed up.

I lost one . But everyone else made it into the brooder. So 6 stil alive is hopefully my final number.

Ya a a a a for a six pack
Sorry you lost one.
Not positive but I don't know if it's good for them to lay on their backs. @casportpony or anyone else that's on right now. . ?

 

[WVduckchick]

And he's huge... the eggs comlpeaty disappear in his mouth..but he hasn't so much as dented these two...

He was asking you to crack them open for him, silly momma.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I try to get mine to eat and drink as soon as possible.

I know they can make it on their yolk for quite some time But it seems to me they get their strength faster if they start at least taking a few sips of water pretty soon after they get fluffed up.

Ya a a a a for a six pack
Sorry you lost one.
Not positive but I don't know if it's good for them to lay on their backs. @casportpony or anyone else that's on right now. . ?

When I got up this morning 5 were mostly getting stuck upside down and struggling. They gradually resolved except the 2 that are maybe pastel. One has since died. The other made little progress until I put him in a cup that prevented flipping over.

He tried to get out so only spent about ten minutes in there. 20 minutes tops.

This is really interesting. He hasn't gotten stuck upside down like that again since that brief cup time. Was moved with his friends within a half hour of that. Crazy huh.

The grow gel is that green jelly stuff, food vitamins and water in one. I was giving them bits in the bator before moving them, and they are slurping it up like crazy now. Wet mash too.

I'm afraid to give them water yet as they are still so wobbly. Seems they could get stuck and drown so easy. Should I give them a quail waterer?

 

[WVduckchick]

I use the quail waterers for all my hatches for at least the first few days. Then with calls, when i switch to the normal size, I add 5 or 6 small rocks, spaced out.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I use the quail waterers for all my hatches for at least the first few days. Then with calls, when i switch to the normal size, I add 5 or 6 small rocks, spaced out.

Ok thank you, it's sitting here ready to put in. Water party ahead!

 

[CayugaJana]

I try to get mine to eat and drink as soon as possible.

I know they can make it on their yolk for quite some time But it seems to me they get their strength faster if they start at least taking a few sips of water pretty soon after they get fluffed up.

Ya a a a a for a six pack
Sorry you lost one.
Not positive but I don't know if it's good for them to lay on their backs. @casportpony or anyone else that's on right now. . ?

I would agree. The ones who seem to find the water and food the fastest, do better. I dip their bills in the water several times their first day I have them.

 

[CayugaJana]

I use the quail waterers for all my hatches for at least the first few days. Then with calls, when i switch to the normal size, I add 5 or 6 small rocks, spaced out.

I really need to do the rock idea. More so they don’t spill it thinking it’s their spa.

 

[WVduckchick]

I really need to do the rock idea. More so they don’t spill it thinking it’s their spa.

Exactly! They still scoop between the rocks, but at least they can't go the whole way around! Plus it gives them something to walk on and save a little water.

 

[CayugaJana]

Exactly! They still scoop between the rocks, but at least they can't go the whole way around! Plus it gives them something to walk on and save a little water.

Don’t you laugh how they instinctively get excited by the sound of running water. You splash it or turn water on and all heads pop up.

 

[WVduckchick]

For the calls, this last time, I had a plastic container that I think a cooked chicken dinner came in. About 2 inches deep, maybe 12" wide by about 8". I cut one side down to about an inch lip, then put an old wash cloth on the bottom, and put the waterer on the wash cloth. I had to change the cloth every day (nasty, I just washed and rotated 2), but it sure keep more of the water from soaking the whole brooder, plus it gave them a little puddle to play in.