The Duck Thread

[subhanalah]

Congratulations! Do you think more will hatch? If they don't, will you buy him some duckling friends? Maybe someone on Craigslist has some day old ducklings?

Also, homemade incubators are very cheap and can be made mostly from stuff around the house

 

[Zombified]

Oops, I'm sorry, she had none in the first two, one in the third, and seven in the fourth. It's a fifth nest she's working on now.


EDIT;
Subhanalah, I did hear tapping, and there's a pip in one, so I *hope* at least one more hatches. All but two eggs had definite life last time I looked, which was two or three days ago. So really, all but those two *should* hatch, but I'm not going to say whether I think they will or won't. I will say this one that has hatched so far is extremely healthy, vocal, and is ready to get up and move, haha. So hopefully that means the others will be healthy and ready to stretch their legs.

 

[subhanalah]

I'm pretty sure she had three hatch, but two died from her third nest. I could be wrong though.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oops, I'm sorry, she had none in the first two, one in the third, and seven in the fourth. It's a fifth nest she's working on now.


EDIT;
Subhanalah, I did hear tapping, and there's a pip in one, so I *hope* at least one more hatches. All but two eggs had definite life last time I looked, which was two or three days ago. So really, all but those two *should* hatch, but I'm not going to say whether I think they will or won't. I will say this one that has hatched so far is extremely healthy, vocal, and is ready to get up and move, haha. So hopefully that means the others will be healthy and ready to stretch their legs.

What a precious duckling Congrats!! I'd move this one to something clean though because of umbilicus you don't want bacteria getting into it and causing infection maybe spray some vetericyn or water down iodine or betadine on it.

 

[Zombified]

She had one hatch in the third nest, but he later died. He was weak from the start and I think only lived a couple of days. From her fourth nest, I know that one died. I think he ended up getting crushed? He was also weak from the beginning.

Zeus is taking a well-deserved nap.

 

[Zombified]

What a precious duckling Congrats!! I'd move this one to something clean though because of umbilicus you don't want bacteria getting into it and causing infection maybe spray some vetericyn or water down iodine or betadine on it.

Umbilicus? Spray vetericyn on what? The whole duckling?

I'm not sure if there is anywhere TO move it. That's why I was going to wait until they had all hatched, then clean it out and put a towel down while they were all kept in a warm room together so they could cuddle and keep each other warm. Honestly, I was not the least bit prepared to be incubating eggs, so I have virtually nothing to accomadate hatching ducklings.

Is umbilicus very common? Is vetericyn expensive? Where would I find it? Could it wait until tomorrow, when I get paid? Otherwise it'll have to wait until later this evening, after my boyfriend gets paid. Apply these same questions to iodine and betadine, plus, why would they have to be watered down?

 

[Alice28]

I don't think it's perfect, no, and I would much rather use an incubator(or pay someone else to, lol) or a broody duck, but I have no money for the first one, and my broody ducks stopped being broody before their eggs hatched. At any rate, I have one hatched duckling! Say hello to Zeus!

Welcome Zeus! Congrats!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Umbilicus? Spray vetericyn on what? The whole duckling?

I'm not sure if there is anywhere TO move it. That's why I was going to wait until they had all hatched, then clean it out and put a towel down while they were all kept in a warm room together so they could cuddle and keep each other warm. Honestly, I was not the least bit prepared to be incubating eggs, so I have virtually nothing to accommodate hatching ducklings.

Is umbilicus very common? Is vetericyn expensive? Where would I find it? Could it wait until tomorrow, when I get paid? Otherwise it'll have to wait until later this evening, after my boyfriend gets paid. Apply these same questions to iodine and betadine, plus, why would they have to be watered down?

Look at where the yolk sac was how does it look? that is what you want to keep clean. betadine and iodine is too strong to use on a duckling full strength so you mix it with warm water to look like weak tea and spray just where the yolk sac was. it will dry up on it's own in a day or 2 but you don't want bacteria getting into it. iodine is cheaper than vetericyn . And please don't tell us you started this incubation and you have nothing to accommodate these ducklings when they hatch? Do you have a card board box and a lamp with a 75 watt bulb? at least get the duckling into that and each one as they hatch then your going to need a large plastic bin to brood them in. Now these little ones depend on you to care for them properly they didn't ask to be incubated that was your decision. Please do right by them.

 

[holm25]

Welcome Zeus! Congrats!

x2

 

[Zombified]

Look at where the yolk sac was how does it look? that is what you want to keep clean. betadine and iodine is too strong to use on a duckling full strength so you mix it with warm water to look like weak tea and spray just where the yolk sac was. it will dry up on it's own in a day or 2 but you don't want bacteria getting into it. iodine is cheaper than vetericyn . And please don't tell us you started this incubation and you have nothing to accommodate these ducklings when they hatch? Do you have a card board box and a lamp with a 75 watt bulb? at least get the duckling into that and each one as they hatch then your going to need a large plastic bin to brood them in. Now these little on depend on you to care for them properly.

I don't know what to look for, so I'll take a picture of it and post it here.

Okay, I'll get iodine and water down with warm water. Again, it'll have to wait until tomorrow afternoon or tonight. I do have a box, and I can probably find a light to use in the garage. I assumed it would be okay to leave them all there until all of them hatched, but I'll get right on making a new brooder.